1. Literature in English ASL
Structuralism
Literature in English
ASL

2. Introduction
A set of theories in the humanities, social sciences and economics
An approach in academic disciplines in general that explores the relationships between fundamental principal elements in language, literature, and other fields
Higher mental, linguistic, social, or cultural "structures" and "structural networks" are drawn

3. Introduction
Through these networks meaning is produced within a particular person, system, or culture
This meaning then frames and motivates the actions of individuals and groups
Began around 1958 and peaked in the late 60s and early 70s

4. Structuralism in Literature
An approach to analyzing the narrative material
By examining the underlying invariant structure
Example: West Side Story
The author did not write anything "really" new
Due to the same structure as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Both texts: a girl and a boy fall in love ("formula“: "Boy + Girl")
Even though they belong to two groups that hate each other ("Opposing forces")
Conflict resolved by their death

5. Structuralism in Literature
Structuralistic literary criticism: the "novelty value of a literary text“: only in new structure
Rather than in the specifics of character development and voice in which that structure is expressed

6. General Principle (1): Meaning through difference
Meaning: not identification of the sign with object in the real world or with some pre-existent concept or essential reality
Generated by difference among signs in a signifying system

7. General Principle (1): Meaning through difference
For instance…the meaning of "woman" and “lady”…
established by their relations to one another in a meaning-field
both refer to a human female
what constitutes "female" are established through difference, not identity with any essence, or ideal truth, or the like

8. General Principle (2): Binary Opposition
Our imaginative world structured of and by binary oppositions
Example: hot VS cold; being VS nothingness; culture VS nature
Oppositions structure meaning

9. General Principle (3): The Idea of Subject
As opposed to the idea of the individual as a stable indivisible ego
To conceive of human reality as a construction
To 'open up' the inner world of humans conceptually
To see the relation of human experience to cultural experience

10. General Principle (3): The Idea of Subject
To talk of meaning as something that is structured into our 'selves'
An attempt to redefine what it is to be a person
The self: signified and culturally constructed

11. Structuralism VS Literature
What seems real to us is coded and conventional
A socially given text, taken as the 'real' world -- what is taken for granted
Shared knowledge which would be recognized by participants as part of culture

12. Structuralism VS Literature
The level at which we interpret motive, character and significance from descriptions of action, dress, attitude and so forth
Example: "Jake put on his tuxedo and tennis shoes"
Provide an interpretation of Jake
Look forward to an explanation of why he broke the cultural code (dress code)

13. Structuralism VS Literature
Oriented toward the reader insofar:
Reader constructs literature
Reading the text with certain conventions and expectations in mind
Structuralism underlines the importance of genre
"Different genres lead to different expectations of types of situations and actions, and of psychological, moral, and esthetic values." (Genette)

14. Structuralism VS Literature
Literature seen as a whole
Functioning as a system of meaning and reference no matter how many works there are

15. That’s all~ Thank you~