"I'm not saying that there's nothing new in literature: I'm saying that everything is new and yet recognizably the same kind of thing as the old" (pg.23)
Prior to this quotation Northrop Frye seemed to be implying that literature is extremely repetitive, and from that I was beginning to conclude that he believed it was lacking creativity. This was especially emphasized when he compared a Greek play to a novel by P.G. Wodehouse, he wrote, "you've got the same plot and the same cast of characters". I thought this was a very unusual way to view literature, as it is more commonly viewed as something requiring extensive creativity. However I thought that this line; "I'm not saying that there's nothing new in literature: I'm saying that everything is new and yet recognizably the same kind of thing as the old" really clarified his argument by challenging the preconception that literature has little new thinking to offer. He followed this by using the example of a newborn baby, saying, "just as a new baby is a genuinely new individual, although it's also an example of something very common". I thought that this was a great comparison in respect to literature and the argument he is making for its originality, I agree with his point of view.
I do agree with his point of view also on repetition of literature through time. Its unique how he points out that the core of literature tends to stay the same but even though changes or newer styles are introduced, they still relate back to the core parts of literature. The relation to the newborn baby is also creative with its relation to literature. Its almost as if he is saying that a new piece of literature can be written but its just another add-on to the rest of the literature in its genre, in the sense that it is creative but its been done before.
ReplyDeleteEven though Northrop Frye is a literary critic, I think he puts down English literature in general quite a lot. Like Sam said, Frye believes that there is little creativity in English literature, which is usually thought of as a creative pursuit as opposed to mathematics and the sciences. I find this weird, especially since he has devoted his life to English literature, the very thing he finds repetitive.
ReplyDeleteMark, I understand why you think that Frye is putting down literature by saying that it is repetitive, but I believe you missed a key idea that Frye wanted to communicate. Frye acknowledges that the convention literature uses is repetitive, the plots, the character traits, but he goes on to say "it isn't what you say but how it's said that important there." (pg 24). What Frye means is that though the themes and issues may be repeated, it's the actual manner that each theme is explored that gives literature meaning.
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