An Archetypal Analysis of E. M. Forster's Fiction

The book is intended to shed some light on E. M. Forster’s use of myth, recurrent mythical images and archetypal patterns in his works. This work analyses Forster’s archetypal images making particular references to his major works. The method used is archetypal criticism; it deals with archetypes which are primordial images perceived across cultures, inherited from time immemorial, issuing from a ‘collective unconscious’. An archetype is a mythic symbol, which is deeply rooted in the unconscious, more broadly based on a foundation of universal nature than an ordinary literary symbol, and is more generally expressive of the elemental in man and nature. This study argues that Forster progresses from fantasy to prophecy. Depending on this progress, Forster’s archetypes evolve. This investigation familiarises the reader with how mythical motifs and archetypes enable the author to communicate his vision of reality, which is essentially timeless. This survey of the archetypes is essential reading for all people of Literature, Mythology, and Psychoanalysis.