English Lit 101: Literary Criticism - Structuralism Binary Oppositions Deep Structure Langue vs. Parole Myths Signs Semiotics Narratology Genette Todorov

What It Is

Structuralism is a literary theory that examines the underlying structures of language, culture, and narrative. It focuses on the relationships between signs, symbols, and meanings. In "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator's use of binary oppositions (e.g., life vs death, sanity vs madness) creates a sense of tension and ambiguity. This matter for literary analysis because it reveals the narrator's unstable psyche and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Binary Oppositions: A fundamental concept in structuralism, where two opposing elements are juxtaposed to create meaning. Example: good vs evil in "The Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.
• Deep Structure: The underlying, unconscious patterns and relationships in language and culture. Example: the use of repetition in Homer's "The Odyssey" to convey the cyclical nature of time.
• Langue vs Parole: A distinction between language as a system (langue) and language as used in specific contexts (parole). Example: the difference between the rules of grammar and the nuances of spoken language in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".
• Myths: Stories that convey cultural values and beliefs. Example: the myth of the hero's journey in Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces".
• Signs: Symbols or representations that carry meaning. Example: the use of the rose as a symbol of love in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".
• Semiotics: The study of signs and symbols in language and culture. Example: the analysis of the semiotics of the American flag in the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Narratology: The study of narrative structures and techniques. Example: the use of framing devices in James Joyce's "Ulysses" to create a sense of circularity.
• Gérard Genette: A French literary theorist who developed the concept of narratology. Example: his analysis of the narrative levels in "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes.
• Tzvetan Todorov: A Bulgarian-French literary theorist who developed the concept of narrative grammar. Example: his analysis of the narrative structure of "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer.
• Signifier: The word or symbol that represents a concept. Example: the word "love" in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".
• Signified: The concept or meaning that is represented by a signifier. Example: the concept of love in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".
• Symbolic Order: The system of signs and symbols that underlies language and culture. Example: the use of the Oedipus complex in Freudian psychoanalysis to explain human behavior.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Structuralism is a type of literary criticism that focuses on the surface level of texts.
• Correction: Structuralism is a type of literary theory that examines the underlying structures of language, culture, and narrative.
• Misunderstanding: Binary oppositions are only used in binary texts (e.g., good vs evil).
• Correction: Binary oppositions can be used in any text to create meaning and tension, regardless of the binary nature of the opposition.
• Misunderstanding: Semiotics is only concerned with the study of signs in language.
• Correction: Semiotics is concerned with the study of signs and symbols in language and culture, including non-linguistic signs such as images and gestures.

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the use of binary oppositions in the following excerpt from "The Lord of the Flies" by William Golding: "The beast was a thing that could be felt, and yet it was nowhere to be seen." What is the binary opposition being created here? Answer: life vs death, civilization vs savagery. Reason: The use of the word "beast" creates a sense of fear and danger, while the phrase "it was nowhere to be seen" creates a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity.

2. Identify the use of deep structure in the following excerpt from Homer's "The Odyssey": "The gods have spoken, and the gods have decreed." What is the underlying pattern or relationship being created here? Answer: the cyclical nature of time. Reason: The use of repetition and the phrase "the gods have spoken" creates a sense of circularity and inevitability.

3. Identify the use of signs in the following excerpt from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet": "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." What is the sign being created here? Answer: the rose as a symbol of love. Reason: The use of the word "rose" creates a sense of association with love and beauty.

Last-Minute Revision

• Structuralism is a literary theory, not a literary criticism.
• Binary oppositions are not limited to binary texts.
• Semiotics is concerned with the study of signs and symbols in language and culture.
• Gérard Genette developed the concept of narratology.
• Tzvetan Todorov developed the concept of narrative grammar.
• The symbolic order is the system of signs and symbols that underlies language and culture.
• Langue refers to language as a system, while parole refers to language as used in specific contexts.
• Myths are stories that convey cultural values and beliefs.
• Signs are symbols or representations that carry meaning.
• The signifier is the word or symbol that represents a concept.
• The signified is the concept or meaning that is represented by a signifier.
• The Oedipus complex is a concept in Freudian psychoanalysis that explains human behavior.
• The hero's journey is a concept in mythology that describes the journey of the hero.
• The American flag is a symbol of American culture and values.
• The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that explores the themes of class and identity.