Structurali
sm in
Literary
Criticism
Introduction
Structuralism emerged in the early–mid 20th century,
rooted in linguistics (Ferdinand de Saussure) and
anthropology (Claude Lévi-Strauss).
It studies literature by focusing on structures, systems,
and patterns rather than individual meaning or authorial
intention.
Structuralist critics argue: “Literature is a system of
signs, just like language.”
Meaning comes not from personal expression, but from
the relations and differences between signs in a larger
system.
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Meaning of Structuralism in Literary Criticism
Structuralism views literature as part of a
signifying system—a network of language, codes,
and conventions.
Instead of focusing on what an author intended, it
asks:
o How does the text work within language
structures?
o What patterns or codes does it follow?
Key claim: Meaning is not inherent in words or
texts, but in the relationships and structures that
organize them.
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Nature of Structuralist Criticism
Systematic: Treats literature as a system governed
by rules and conventions.
Analytical: Breaks down texts into structures—
binary oppositions, narrative codes, mythic
patterns.
Objective: Focuses on language itself, not the
author’s psychology or historical background.
Universalist: Seeks underlying structures
common to all texts and cultures (myths,
archetypes, narrative patterns).
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Key Concepts in Structuralism
1. Saussurean Linguistics
o Signifier (sound, word, image)
o Signified (concept or idea)
o The sign = unity of signifier + signified.
o Meaning comes from differences (e.g., “cat” ≠ “bat”).
2. Binary Oppositions (Lévi-Strauss)
o Human thought and literature often operate in opposites:
life/death, male/female, hero/villain, nature/culture.
o Structuralists analyze how texts use and resolve these
binaries.
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Key Concepts in Structuralism
3. Narratology (Tzvetan Todorov, Roland Barthes)
o Study of narrative structures: plot patterns, functions, stages.
o E.g., Todorov’s model: Equilibrium → Disruption → Recognition →
Resolution → New Equilibrium.
4. Codes (Barthes)
o Texts rely on cultural and narrative codes:
Hermeneutic code: mystery, questions raised.
Proairetic code: actions/events that propel narrative.
Cultural code: references to shared knowledge.
5. Intertextuality (Julia Kristeva)
o No text stands alone; every text is a mosaic of other texts.
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How to Analyze Literature with a Structuralist
Lens
Ask questions like:
What patterns or structures shape the text?
What binary oppositions organize its meaning?
How do characters function (e.g., hero, villain, helper,
victim)?
What narrative codes (mystery, action, cultural references)
are present?
How does the text relate to myths, archetypes, or genres?
What larger system of meaning does the text participate in?
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Steps in Writing a Structuralist Critique
1. Identify the system – Place the text within language,
genre, or mythic systems.
2. Break down the text – Look at its signifiers,
structures, and binary oppositions.
3. Map narrative functions – Use narratology to see
how events unfold.
4. Locate intertextuality – Compare the text with other
stories, myths, or cultural codes.
5. Interpret meaning – Show how meaning is
produced through structures, not authorial intent.
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Examples of Structuralist Criticism in Action
Fairy Tales (Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale)
o Common structure: Hero leaves → faces trials → receives aid → defeats villain
→ returns.
o Structuralist view: All folktales share similar functions, regardless of culture.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet
o Binary oppositions: life/death, action/inaction, appearance/reality.
o Narrative codes: mystery (who killed the king?), cultural codes (revenge
tragedy conventions).
Greek Myths
o Recurrent structures: hero vs. monster, human vs. divine, order vs. chaos.
o Structuralism studies myth as system, not just individual stories.
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Conclusion
Structuralism shifts focus from what a text means
to how a text means.
Literature is seen as part of a larger system of
signs and conventions.
As a lens, it helps critics uncover the deep
structures that govern stories, myths, and cultural
expressions.
While later theories (poststructuralism, deconstruction)
complicate its claims, structuralism remains
foundational in literary studies
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