About this title: In this classic of literary criticism, Northrop Frye examines a variety of approaches to literary criticism, and advocates a systematic approach to the study of literature.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Acceptable. Book is in good reading condition. Cover has wear at edges and corners, and may have creases. Spine has wear at edges and may have creases. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1971. Paperback. First printing. 383pp includes reference notes, glossary, and index. Has a crease in front cover, small stain on foredge only on five pages, previous owner's name in front, light wear on spine at bottom, otherwise good condition. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Atheneum
Date Published: 1966
Description: Good. Library binding. Ex-library label, marks, etc., moderate wear to hardcover, last blank page library-removed, clean text, good binding. Ships within one business day with delivery confirmation. read more
Edition: Text is Free of Markings
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
Date Published: 1985
ISBN-13:9780691012988ISBN:0691012989
Description: Very Good Plus. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. 383 pp. Tightly bound. Spine not compromised. read more
Edition: First Edition, 10th Printing
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Princeton Univ Press, Princeton, NJ
Date Published: 1957
ISBN-13:9780691012988ISBN:0691012989
Description: Near Fine in None As Issued jacket. Text/NF; underlining of one phrase on pg 11 (Polemic Introduction), else As New. Illustrated soft cover/NF w/trace wear to front corner tips. PO names (2): sticker on front cover verso, penned name on fEP; good intentions aside, neither of the previous owners read the book. Classic anthology of 4 essays on literary criticism, a discipline Northrop Fry likens to a house-yet-to-be-built and his tenative thoughts, the "mere scaffolding, to be knocked away when ... read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr, Ewing, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1990
ISBN-13:9780691012988ISBN:0691012989
Description: Fine. No Jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. First edition/tenth printing book is tight with no markings, some tanning and soiling to page edges, wraps have some rubbing and edges have curling/creasing, previous owners name on first page. read more
Edition: First edition.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Princeton University Press, Princeton
Date Published: 1957
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Very Good Copy. Hardcover, Text is clean and unmarked. binding is tight, with wear, and bumping to corners, 383 p.; 25 cm. read more
Edition: Edition or Printing Not Stated
Binding: Green Cloth
Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr, Princeton, NJ
Date Published: 1957
Description: Very Good For Age in Better Than Good Price Intact jacket. 9 1/2 X 6 1/4. Pages are tight, bright and clean. Insignificant/moderate pencil markings & yellow highlighting. Binding straight and firm, sewn signatures. Boards, spine, edges and corners good. If needed for reference, research, analysis, lucubrations or just enjoyment, this is the one. 383 pages, notes, glossary & indexed. No conspicuous wear. Jacket in a crystal-clear polyester protector sleeve. read more
Description: Near Fine in None as Issued jacket. Text/BRAND NEW. Green soft cover/VG; clean, strong & sound w/rubs to leading edges and faint creasings. Classic essays in literary criticism. First published in 1957, the book is based on four public lectures delivered at Princeton in 1954; they are: First Essay: Historical Criticism: Theory of Modes; Second, Ethical Criticism: Theory of Symbols; Third, Achetypal Criticism: Theory of Myths; and, Fourth, Rhetorical Criticism: Theory of Genres. Fine copy. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr, Ewing, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1957
ISBN-13:9780691012988ISBN:0691012989
Description: Good. Fair Jacket. 383 pages, first edtion hardcover, book is nicely bound, ex-library, spine faded jacket is protected with a brodart cover, light moisture to top corner of paper, otherwise clean, tight and unmarked. Historical-Ethical-Archetypal and Retorical Criticism. read more
"Well, this is pretty dense in a way that books usually aren't these days. Not dense in a Frenchified theory way, and not dense in a flowery language kind of way. Just conceptually dense. Which is fine, but not all of the concepts are useful. Density aside, the first two essays - on historical criticism and 'symbols,' (which for Frye doesn't really mean, well, symbol) - are pretty good, if overly schematic. The third essay is horrific. Really, you just need a diagram for it, but we get over 100 pages instead. The fourth essay, on genres, is occasionally interesting but also too schematic and way too long. I'd stick to the introduction and first two essays, and skim the rest.
One thing that's odd is that people say this seems 'dated' thanks to Marxist or feminist or postcolonial theory, or deconstruction. Not really, though. Frye's aware of all those trends already in 1957 (not counting postco, I guess); and his work isn't dated by deconstruction. It's just the opposite side, handily summarised in Harold Bloom's (awful) foreword: for Bloom and his ilk, literature is all about indeterminacy, and more or less a brawl among self-loathing geniuses. For Frye, literature is a "cooperative enterprise," part of the attempt to make life better for ourselves. Not dated, then, but one side of an ongoing argument. Frankly, I hope Frye's side wins. Then there'll be no need to re-read this book."
"I wanted to get into literary criticism. This is a little obscurely written at times, but the ideas are not difficult and it's positively entertaining. Goes through genres, symbols, etc."
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