DISCUSSION

LESSON 15: STRUCTURALISM

Define the following terms using your own words:

Universal Structure

WHAT IS “STRUCTURALISM”?

Structuralism
 tries to reduce the complexity of human experiences to certain underlying
structures which are universal.

 is taken to be an effort to link up the culture, mind, and universe.

 relates literary texts to a larger structure, which may be:

 a particular genre;
 a range of intertextual connections;
 a model of a universal narrative structure or a system of recurrent patterns
or motifs.
 Structuralism should identify the general principles of literary structure and
not to provide interpretations of individual texts. – (Propp & Todorov)

EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURALIST CRITICISM:

Structuralist Criticism says that all text is part of a bigger picture because of symbols and signs.
 o Typical horror stories. Almost all horror stories follow the same pattern. You start out
with an innocent person going about their daily lives, they then hear a strange sound
either outside or on the other side of a door. They go to check out the sound and are
brutally murdered. The end.

o Love stories. The main character somehow meets the love of their life. They experience a
whirlwind relationship but are torn apart for some reason. They eventually reunite, get
married and then die. The end.

o Heroic Stories. Many theorists with the likes of Joseph Campbell and Vladimir Propp
believe that heroic stories or epics in different cultures all share a pattern. It all starts with
a hero in an ordinary world. Then these events follow:

 Call to Adventure – the hero receives a mysterious message (an

invitation/challenge set in a special world).
 Assistance – the hero needs some help probably from someone older and wiser.
 Departure – the hero crosses the threshold from his normal, safe world to enter the
special world and start an adventure.
 Trials – the hero solves a riddle, slays a monster, or escapes from a trap.
 Approach – the hero faces the biggest ordeal, possibly his worst fear.
 Crisis – the hero’s darkest hour. He faces death but is eventually reborn.
 Treasure – the hero successfully slays the big ordeal and claims a treasure (either
an item, a special recognition, or power)
 Result – this may vary from stories. Either the enemy/monsters bow down to the
hero or they chase him as he flees.
 Return – the hero returns to his ordinary world.
 New Life – the quest has changed the hero, he has outgrown his old life.
 Resolution – all existing problems are resolved.
Analyzing the symbols and signs found in typical plots such as these is how Structuralists
determine the function of the text.

THE THREE DIMENSIONS IN INDVIDUAL LITERARY TEXTS:

 Textuality – involves looking at works that function powerfully in our world, and
considering both what they mean and how they mean. (interpretation of the text).

 Intertextuality – is the interconnection between similar or related works of literature that

reflect and influence an audience's interpretation of the text. Texts are unavoidably
influenced by other texts.

 Binary Oppositions – is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning.
Textuality
 The idea of textuality comes along with the assumption that the form in which a message
comes to you will influence your interpretation of the message.

o The textuality of a richly illustrated hardcover book is different than that of an e-

book file that you download onto your phone. The words are the same, but the
textuality is different.

 For many people, different textualities also mean different reading experiences.
Intertextuality
 is the way that one text influences another.
 a fact about literary texts – they are all intimately interconnected.

Example #1:
 “After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure”
 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling)

Was derived from:

 “to die would be an awfully big adventure.”

 (Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie)

Example #2:
 50 Shades of Grey was originally written as a Twilight fan-fiction

Example #3:
 The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis was inspired by the Bible
particulary that of Jesus’ Crucifixion
– In Narnia: Edmund betrays Aslan
– In the Bible: Judas betrays Jesus Christ
Example #4:
 Till We Have Faces (also by C.S Lewis) is a retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and
Psyche .
 Example #5:
 The novel Wicked written by Gregory Maguire in 1995 was inspired from the 1900
novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

Binary Oppositions
 is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning.
 it proves that two opposing concepts cannot coexist therefore producing Conflict.
Examples:
 Good & Evil
 Rich & Poor
 Young & Old
 Freedom & Entrapment
 Fullness & Emptiness

EXAMPLE OF BINARY OPPOSITIONS IN LITERATURE:

 The Protagonist and the Antagonist in any story.

ADVANTAGES OF STRUCTURALISM:
 It can be used to study any kind of system, text, or material.
 It enables awareness to underlying structures and reveals their limiting and conditioning
nature

DISADVANTAGE OF STRUCTURALISM:
 It does not enable analysis of the literature. Only the structure.

QUESTIONS OF STRUCTURALIST THEORISTS TO INTERPRET A TEXT:

1. What other work can this piece be compared with because of the structure?
2. What themes or patterns are constantly repeated in literature?
3. How does this piece of literature reflect the reality of society?
4. What makes the text universal?
 REINFORCER
Give a typical pattern of a love story that can almost be observed in different cultures.
Answer in sequence form.

1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________________________
8. _________________________________________________________________
9. _________________________________________________________________
10. _________________________________________________________________
11. _________________________________________________________________
12. _________________________________________________________________

CHALLENGER
Structuralists believe that we are all somehow related due to recurrent patterns across
cultures. What do we (as normal people) have in common with the main character of a
heroic journey? Explain your answer in 10 sentences or more.

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EVALUATION

Apply the Structuralist Approach by identifying the universality as well as the binary
oppositions of the poem entitled “Alone with Everybody” by Charles Bukowski.
Rubric for Literary Criticism
Criteria 5 4 3 2
Content The essay is interesting The essay is interesting At least 70% of the At least 60% of the
and well-thought out. and well-thought out. At paragraphs are strongly paragraphs are strongly
Each paragraph is least 80% of the supported with details supported with details
strongly supported with paragraphs are strongly and examples from the and examples from the
details and examples supported with details book excerpt. book excerpt.
from the book excerpt. and examples from the
book excerpt.

Focus All aspects of the One aspect may be Two aspects may be Three aspects may be
approach are strongly missing or unclear; or all missing or unclear; or missing or unclear; or
and clearly evident in elements are present but all elements are present most elements are
the composition. two are weak and/or but three may be weak present but four or
unclear. and/or unclear. more may be weak.

Organization The essay is logically The essay is logically The essay is logically The essay is somewhat
organized: intro., body, organized and at least organized and at least logically organized
and conclusion. The 80% of it flows smoothly 70% of it flows and/or at least 60% of
essay flows smoothly due to the writer's use of smoothly due to the it flows smoothly due
due to the writer's use transitions. writer's use of to the writer's use of
of transitions. transitions. transitions.

Vocabulary and Vocabulary is Vocabulary is interesting Vocabulary is precise. Vocabulary is

Grammar sophisticated and and precise. Has no more Has no more than three pedestrian. Has no
precise. Essay has no than two significant significant grammar or more than four
significant grammatical grammar or word choice word choice errors. significant grammar or
or word choice errors errors. word choice errors.
that impede
understanding.
Alone With Everybody
by Charles Bukowski

the flesh covers the bone

and they put a mind
in there and
sometimes a soul,
and the women break
vases against the walls
and the men drink too
much
and nobody finds the
one
but they keep
looking
crawling in and out
of beds.
flesh covers
the bone and the
flesh searches
for more than
flesh.

there's no chance
at all:
we are all trapped
by a singular
fate.

nobody ever finds

the one.

the city dumps fill

the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill

nothing else
fills.

REFERENCES
 https://sites.wp.odu.edu/tatum-fisherengl333/theory-7/
 https://literarydevices.net/intertextuality/
 https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-textuality-262364
 https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Structuralism
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA
 https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literary-schools-of-theory/structuralism