The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

The Grinch who stole Christmas can be explained using that Archetypal form of criticism. Archetypal criticism focuses on the use of mythology and takes on a very creative aspect to literature. In the Grinch who stole Christmas, the Grinch is the antagonist who possesses an active hatred towards Christmas and the citizens of Who-ville.

There are many questionable sections in the poem that distinguish it as a myth rather than reality. To begin with, Santa Clause and the Grinch are characters of the imagination, used in a mythical sense and never brought to reality. Secondly, the author says “THEN

He loaded some bags

And some old empty sacks
On a ramshakle sleigh
And he hitched up old Max.”

This means that the Grinch was intending to use his dog, max, as a reindeer. It would be physically impossible for a dog that small to hull around a sled filled with Christmas items for hours. Max was also expected to convoy the sleigh and heavy Christmas items “Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mount Crumpit”, which is a physically impossible task for a dog. Thereafter, the Grinch was expected to climb in and out of chimneys all night, stealing Christmas presents as well as trees. This task is impossible, only one that a fictional character would be able to accomplish. Finally, the author says “That the Grinch’s small heart Grew three sizes that day!” It would be impossible for a heart to grow and shrink based on the amount of love and care that is shown. As you can see, the Grinch was meant to be portrayed in a mythical sense. There are many flaws that do not occur with in reality. This poem is meant to be a myth to teach children not to be like the Grinch, and to love and accept everything.