History Quote by Northrop Frye
““It doesn't matter whether a sequence of words is called a history or a story: that is, whether it is intended to follow a sequence of actual events or not. As far as its verbal shape is concerned, it will be equally mythical in either case. But we notice that any emphasis on shape or structure or pattern or form always throws a verbal narrative in the direction we call mythical rather than historical.(p.21)””
About This Quote
Source Book: Anatomy of Criticism, 1957
The distinction between history and story lies in their form; both become mythic when we focus on structure rather than factual sequence.
In simple terms: Form makes narrative mythic regardless of truth.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to structure, not just content.
Themes
myth
structure
narrative
history
story
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
critical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- teaching literature
- creative writing
- critical essays
Key Concepts
Literary theory
mythology
narrative analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How does focusing on form change our perception of truth?
- When does myth become more useful than history?
A Different Perspective
Emphasizing structure can obscure factual accuracy.
![“The genuine artist, Harris is saying, finds reality in a point of identity between subject and object, a point at which the created world and the world that is really there become the same thing. [p.211]” quote by Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/82e/northrop-frye-3483_art_the-genuine-artist-harris-is-saying-find_1440969.jpg)
