02 Tuesday Jan 18

Becca Bice's Notes for 18 January 2011
Today’s class focused on an introduction to the theory of structuralism. In order to begin to understand literary structuralism, we had to first investigate the science of linguistics and how it changed under the influence of Ferdinand de Saussure.

Saussure suggested a synchronic method of linguistic study: he suggested that several facets of language should be studied at one given moment in time. Barry outlines three of Saussure’s main beliefs. 1) Language is arbitrary: there is no inherent connection between a word and what the word is meant to represent. The signifier (the word or sound pattern) does not have an inherent connection with the signified (the thing.)  2) Language is relational: the exact meaning of a word exists because there are other similar (or opposite) words from which it differs in some way. These differences define specific meaning. 3) Language is constitutive: the words we use create what we see. A thing does not carry its own definition.  It is the way we describe it which actually defines the thing.  Instead of looking at the specific words (parole) and how they changed over time, Saussure suggested linguists look at the overarching nature of language and study how the entire system of language itself (langue) works.

In relation to structuralism, parole stands for the individual work being studied and langue stands for a literary system such as the narrative structure, the conventions of genre, etc. Structuralism rejects the liberal humanist method of studying a work in isolation and celebrates the idea of studying a work in relation to the surrounding literary systems. After we got a sense of structuralism, we did a few exercises in class. We looked at a picture of the United States flag and wrote down words that came to mind. For each word we picked more words that related to the initial word. Next, we looked at two advertisements and wrote down some binaries: sets of two words that oppose each other but can both be seen in the picture. Finally, we applied this method to the study of a poem: “Sailing to Byzantium” by W.B. Yeats. The practice of finding binaries or discovering patterns within text (as opposed to attempting to decipher its theme) is a structuralist practice.

Then, we touched on some of the readings. In Sassure’s The Object of Study, pgs. 25 and 26 give a good summary of what language is and explain how it is passively acquired. In the excerpt from Literary Theory, pg. 88 discusses the idea of language as relational and how differences between words create meaning.

We then looked to a discussion question on the differences between liberal humanism and structuralism. We found liberal humanism to focus on content, morality, and the essence or truth of the text. Structuralism would focus on form, duality, or the components of the piece.

Finally, we defined and practiced more metrical terms: anapest (unstressed, unstressed, stressed) and dactyl (stressed, unstressed, unstressed.)

The powerpoint for this lecture can be found on blackboard under Course Information.