Instruction
How does Jung's structure of the psyche compare with Freud's?
What makes the concept of the "collective unconscious" such a break from Freudian psychoanalysis?
Is Jung's argument for the existence of the collective unconscious compelling? To what degree is its existence a construct of his therapeutic experience and/or of his reading? What types of texts help him better understanding the function of the collective unconscious?
If archetypes are like instincts, what is their relation to the "creative impulse" (44) and how might that influence our engagement with literary texts?
How clearly does Jung define the collective unconscious in this essay and how well does he account for its existence, how strong is his evidence, and how convincing is the evidence he provides?
What role do archetypes play in allowing Jung to recognize how the collective unconscious functions? If, as the Nazi threat he identifies suggests, we are politically susceptible to the instinctual power of archetypes, what would be the healthiest way of addressing their power, their allure?
How do art, religion, science stand as essentially different fields of inquiry in relation to psychology? Despite this, what relevance does Jung find for psychology in its engagement with the poetic?
What fault does Jung find in Freudian readings of literary texts?
What distinction does Jung make between two types of artwork? Which type interests him the most and why? How might Jungian psychology help explain or understand this type of artistic creation?
Why would Jung find psychological artworks of minimal interest?
What is the nature (if not essence) of visionary texts, and from what source does their power to intoxicate us derive?
Are these helpful distinctions for understanding literary texts and/or the literary process?