Structuralism

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Major Figures

Ferdinand de Saussure - Often considered the father of structuralism. Central notion of his teachings is that language may be analyzed as a formal system of differential elements, apart from the messy dialectics of real-time production and comprehension. Examples of these elements include the notion of the linguistic sign, the signifier, the signified, and the referent. Claude Levi-Strauss - derived structuralism from a school of linguistics whose focus was not on the meaning of the word, but the patterns that the words form. Jonathan Culler graduated from Harvard in 1966, current English professor at Cornell. Voice of structuralism in America. Published Structuralist Poetics A.J. Greimas Lithuanian linguist who contributed to the theory of semiotics. Roland Barthes influenced the schools of critical theories such as structuralism, semiotics, Marxism, existentialism, and post-structuralism.

Origins
Can be seen as an extension of Formalism due to the fact that both Structuralism and Formalism devote their attention to matters of literary form (i.e. structure) rather than social or historical content. In addition, both Formalism and Structuralism intend to put the study of literature into the realm of science, to evaluate it logically and objectively. Also closely related to semiotics. SEMIOTICS: study of sign processes or signification and communication, signs and symbols. Also includes the study of how meaning is constructed and undertstood.

Key Points
Analyzes pieces of work as textual TEXTUAL: composed of signs, governed by conventions of meanings, ordered according to a pattern of relationships. *In short, to concentrate on patterns, both in the work and between multiple works. Some structuralists (and a related school of critics called the Russian Formalists) propose that all narratives can be considered variations on universal narrative patterns. *In short, any new story is considered a twist on an old story. For example, the concept of Shakespeares Capulets and Montagues; two warring families with children who fall in love. This clich is used multiple times with slight
variations.

Key Points Continued

Structuralism concentrates on the idea that we do not speak language, but rather, language speaks us. It argues that the systems of language, which have existed far longer than any author today, already exist and we merely borrow words for our use. In this way, there is no originality, only recreating the already written. *In short, nothing is original. Every new work is based off another work.

Key Points Continued Even More

Saussure regarded the signifier (works, marks or s ymbols) as unrelated to the signified (the actual concept) to which it referred. Structuralists put a special emphasis on langue rather than on parole. LANGUE: language when considering it a system of rules and conventions. PAROLE: language when being used to express a concept. *In short, Structuralism analyzes the placement and usage of words and symbols, not of what the words and symbols actually represent. HOWEVER, while plot may be a concept rather than a symbol, Structuralism also compares and contrasts these to find patterns among works of literature. Enables both the reading of texts and the reading of cultures.

An Old-Fashioned Story by Laurie Colwin A Quick Summary

Elizabeth Leapold, is born a pretty, but rebellious girl who is forced to spend her time with Nelson Rodker, a boring boy who never misbehaves. Elizabeths parents hope that she will one day marry Nelson, but Elizabeth secretly loathes Nelson and cant wait to leave her parents. When she is finally able to leave for college, Elizabeth is able to delight in wild acts such as reading in her apartment, while she still occasionally sees Nelson to keep her parents from asking questions. She also enters a relationship with a man named Roy, who repeatedly leaves and returns to her. Later at a Christmas party, Elizabeth leaves with Nelsons delinquent older brother, James, in order to spite her parents. Finding James to be surprisingly boring she chooses to no longer have any relations with him. Catching a bad cold she retires at her apartment for a week, until Nelson arrives, confesses his love for her, then kisses her, proving that he is spontaneous. Then they live happily ever after

Analysis : Its a Chick Flick!

Elizabeth Leopold Main Character made similar to the expected audience. Nelson Rodker The Good Guy (The unexpected true love) Roy Wayne Howard The Mysterious Guy (The chaotic love that wasnt meant to be) James Rodker The Rebel/Bad Guy (The expected love that turns out to have no merit) Predictability Similar to Pride and Prejudice or 27 Dresses (Yeah I saw it, my sister made me) Multiple relationship instances A failed love A love that turned out not to be love An unexpected love (who is obviously the stereotypical perfect man and every womans fantasy) The prince rescuing the damsel in distress at the end.