The Educated Imagination Chapter 5 Essay - 850 Words

The Spectrums Purpose The fifth chapter of The Educated Imagination, â€Å"The Verticals of Adam† by Northrop Frye, explains his feelings about the necessity for children to be exposed to some fundamental texts in the literary spectrum in a certain order to best enable them to understand twentieth century society. The understanding of the Christian Bible, and Greek/Roman mythology are said by Frye to be key factors in how a child will interpret future literature. It is noted by Frye that the bible should be taught first, followed by the mythologies of the Greeks/Romans. I agree with his ideas about the order of exposure, as being the foundation of western society as it is best suited to being the foundation for learning of a child from said†¦show more content†¦Knowledge of the major stories present in the bible will continue to benefit any student for the foreseeable future, as the Christian mythology will remain a powerful force in our culture for years to come. For instance, the story of Cain and Abel contains a strong moral lesson about jealousy and family. Understanding a biblical story like this is the reason why the Bible should be taught first in the spectrum, as much of it provides a solid moral lens through which much literature can be successfully interpreted. More clearly than the Bible, Greek/Roman mythology helps outline the life cycle that almost always applies to the traditional archetypal hero. With basic knowledge of the Bible we can determine right from wrong and its influence in real life when reading mythology. As the reader we experience this when seeing the actions the hero takes, as explained by Frye when he states, ... the central myth of the hero whose mysterious birth, triumph and marriage, death and betrayal and eventual rebirth... (Frye, 67), explaining the archetypical story outline of the tragic hero. As an example of the archetype, the story of Hercules starts with the mysterious birth of a being that is half god and half man, with his father famously being Zeus. Following Hercules diverse birth we also know he triumphed over the leader of the underworld named Hades, while alsoShow MoreRelatedThe Educated Imagination3194 Words   |  13 PagesStudy Guide for The Educated Imagination Northrop Frye (1912-1991) read his  Massey Lectures  over the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC radio) in 1962. First published by Indiana University Press in 1964, the six lectures present key concepts from Frye’s  Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays  (Princeton University Press, 1957). Chapter One. â€Å"The Motive for Metaphor.† Frye begins by exploring the relation of language and literature. â€Å"What is the relation of English as the mother tongue to EnglishRead More Simon in William Goldings Lord of the Flies Essay767 Words   |  4 Pagesdespairingly in Chapter 1. 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