Northrop Frye

Herman Northrop Frye, CC , MA , D.Litt. , FRSC (July 14, 1912 – January 23, 1991) was a Canadian literary critic, one of the most distinguished of the twentieth century.

Related Topics:
CC - MA - D.Litt. - FRSC - July 14 - 1912 - January 23 - 1991 - Canadian - Literary critic - Twentieth century

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Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec but raised in Moncton, New Brunswick, Frye studied for his undergraduate degree at Victoria College, University of Toronto. He then studied theology at Emmanuel College, at Victoria University, and was ordained as a minister of the United Church of Canada. After ordination, he studied at the University of Oxford, before returning to Victoria College for his entire professional career. He first rose to international prominence when still a student. The prophetic poetry of William Blake had long been considered delusional ramblings that could never be understood. Frye found in it a system of metaphor derived from Paradise Lost and from the Bible. He published his findings as Fearful Symmetry in 1947.

Related Topics:
Sherbrooke - Quebec - Moncton - New Brunswick - Victoria College - University of Toronto - United Church of Canada - University of Oxford - William Blake - Paradise Lost - Bible - Fearful Symmetry - 1947

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Ten years later he expanded his vision, arguing in Anatomy of Criticism that there are certain archetypes and symbols used throughout literature. His The Great Code looked at how scenes and images from the Bible underpin all of western literature.

Related Topics:
Anatomy of Criticism - The Great Code

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He also engaged in cultural and social criticism and was the recipient of some 39 honorary degrees. Anatomy of Criticism remains one of the most important works of twentieth Century literary criticism.

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Frye was awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Pierce Medal in 1958. In 1972 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Related Topics:
Royal Society of Canada's - Lorne Pierce Medal - 1958 - 1972 - Order of Canada

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Frye died in 1991 and was interred in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario.

Related Topics:
1991 - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Toronto - Ontario

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In 2000, he was honoured by the government of Canada with his image on a postage stamp. A festival devoted to Frye's works takes place every April in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Related Topics:
2000 - Postage stamp

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