Maharani Shree Nandkuvaraba Mahila Arts & Commerce Collage
Name : chudasama Hetanshi
Subject : English
Year : T. Y. B. A
Sem : 6
Paper Name : Modern Literary Criticism
Professor Name : Rachana ma'am
Home Assignment : Structuralism
Class Assignment : Post colonism
Essay : Feminism and Psychoanalysis
Home Assignment
Structuralism :
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Introduction :
Structuralism is the literary theory that apply in language by use this theory we known the language structure behind the story or any literary work. Structuralism is a way of studying literature, language, and culture by looking at their structure (system) instead of only the meaning.Structuralism does not focus on the writer’s personal feelings or history. Instead, it studies how different parts of a text are connected and how they form a system.
It became popular in the 20th century. The main idea of structuralism comes from the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure. After that Claude Lévi-Strauss and Roland Barthes develope this theory and apply in literature, myths and culture.
Meaning of structuralism :
Structuralism is a theory that studies structure (system) behind language, literature, and culture. It says that everything works like a system, and we must understand the relationship between different parts to know the full meaning.
Structuralism say that, every language has a system of sign ( particular structure of the word and sentences in every language) and every sign have a different meaning in the language that explain by this theory.
Definition of structuralism :
Structuralism is a method of analysis that studies literature, language, and culture as a system of related parts.
Main idea of structuralism :
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Structuralism was mainly developed by the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure. He was the father of structuralism theory.
The main idea of Structuralism is that everything works like a system, and we can understand meaning only by studying the structure of that system.
1. Language is a System of Signs :
According to the Ferdinand de Saussure structuralism say that every language have not only word but that have particular system of sign.
Each sign has two parts:
Signifier – the word we hear or see ( speak & write)
Signified – the idea or meaning in our mind ( thought)
For example:
The word “tree” (signifier) gives the image of a tree in our mind (signified).
2. Meaning Comes from Difference :
According to structuralism every word have a structure or meaning that become different from another word .
Example:
We understand “good” because it is different from “bad”.
We understand “hot” because it is different from “cold”.
So, meaning comes from difference, not from the word another word.
3. Everything Has Structure :
Structuralism says that like obove point of thing every literary work have different structure that made it different from another work .
Stories have common patterns (beginning, middle, end narrator, climax, end) .
There are common character roles (hero, villain, helper).
Myths and cultures also follow similar structures.
Claude Lévi-Strauss applied this idea to myths and culture.
Roland Barthes applied it to literature and media.
Scop of structuralism :
Structuralism is an intellectual movement and analytical method that seeks to uncover the underlying, unconscious structures and systems (rules, codes, or binary oppositions) that govern human culture, language, literature, and thought, rather than focusing on individual subjects. It argues that meaning is produced through the relational networks of these systems.
The scope of structuralism spans across multiple disciplines:
1. Anthropology :
Claude Lévi-Strauss used structuralism to study: Family relationships (kinship)
Myths and stories
Food habits and cooking
He believed that all cultures follow basic mental structures. Different societies may look different, but their thinking patterns are similar.
2. Linguistics :
Structuralism in language is based on the ideas of Ferdinand de Saussure.
He said:
Langue → the system of language
Parole → individual speech
Structuralists study the language system (langue), not just individual speech. Words get meaning because of their relationship with other words.
3. Literary Theory :
In literature, structuralism studies:
Story patterns
Narrative structure
Codes and symbols
Roland Barthes studied how stories and media follow certain structures and rules.
4. Psychology :
In psychology, early structuralism was developed by Wilhelm Wundt.
He tried to break down human thoughts and experiences into basic elements to understand how the mind works.
5. Cultural Studies :
Structuralism also studies:
Games ,Rituals, Fashion,Media It explains how meaning is created in society through different systems and structures.
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Names of Structuralist Thinkers :
Here are some important structuralist thinkers:
Ferdinand de Saussure – Father of
Structuralism (Linguistics)
Claude Lévi-Strauss – Applied structuralism to myths and anthropology
Roland Barthes – Applied structuralism to literature and culture
Roman Jakobson – Structural linguist and literary theorist
Vladimir Propp – Studied structure of folk tales
Jacques Lacan – Applied structuralism to psychoanalysis
What Structuralist Critics Do:
Structuralist critics study the structure and system of a text. They do not focus on the author’s personal life or feelings. Instead, they look at how the different parts of a text are connected.
1. Study the Structure of the Text :
They examine Beginning, middle, and end Plot pattern Character roles (hero, villain, helper) They try to find the hidden structure behind the story.
2. Look at Language as a System :
Structuralist critics study Signs (signifier and signified) every word combine with each other and get the meaning and made different from another word. How words get meaning How meaning comes from difference .They believe language works like a system.
3. Find Common Patterns :
They compare texts to find Similar themes like :
Repeated story patterns
Binary oppositions (good/evil, rich/poor, male/female)
4. Study Cultural Structures :
Some structuralist studied myths and cultures to find common structures. like Claude Lévi-Strauss studied myths and cultures to find common structures. Roland Barthes studied literature and media in the same way.
Example of Structuralism with a Play
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
A structuralist critic studies the structure, patterns, and oppositions in the play, not Shakespeare’s personal life.
1. Binary Oppositions (Opposites)
In Hamlet, we see many oppositions:
Action / Inaction
Life / Death
Reality / Appearance
Loyalty / Betrayal
Sanity / Madness
These oppositions help create the meaning of the play.
2. Structure of the Play
The play follows a clear pattern:
Beginning – Ghost reveals the truth
Rising action – Hamlet plans revenge
Conflict – Hamlet delays action
Climax – Duel scene
Ending – Death of main characters
A structuralist studies this dramatic structure.
3. Character Roles
Structuralism studies character functions:
Hero – Hamlet Villain – Claudius
Helper – Horatio Female figure – Ophelia
These roles follow common patterns found in many tragedies.
Conclusion :
Thorought this literary theory structuralism follo above ideas and interpreate and evaluate language structure. With the help of this theory we can understand the pattern of the literary text.
Class Assignment :
Post Colonial criticism :
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Introduction :
Postcolonial criticism is an important theory in modern literary studies that examines the impact of colonial rule on literature, culture, and society. During the colonial period, powerful European countries such as Britain and France ruled many Asian and African nations. These colonial powers controlled not only the land and economy but also influenced the language, education, culture, and identity of the colonized people.
After independence, writers and scholars began to question how colonialism affected the minds and cultures of the people. Postcolonial criticism studies these effects and analyzes how literature reflects issues like power, domination, resistance, race, identity, and cultural conflict.
Meaning of post colonial criticism :
Postcolonial criticism is an important theory in modern literary studies that examines the impact of colonial rule on literature, culture, and society. During the colonial period, powerful European countries such as Britain and France ruled many Asian and African nations. These colonial powers controlled not only the land and economy but also influenced the language, education, culture, and identity of the colonized people.
After independence, writers and scholars began to question how colonialism affected the minds and cultures of the people. Postcolonial criticism studies these effects and analyzes how literature reflects issues like power, domination, resistance, race, identity, and cultural conflict.
Definition of Postcolonial Criticism :
A literary approach that analyzes, interprets, and evaluates literary texts in the context of colonial history, focusing on issues of power, identity, race, culture, resistance, and the lasting effects of imperialism.
It studies how literature:
Supports colonial ideas (imperialism)
Resists colonial domination
Expresses the voice of the oppressed
Reclaims cultural identity
Main Idea of Postcolonial Criticism :
The main idea of postcolonial criticism is to examine how colonialism has shaped literature, culture, and identity, and to expose the power relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. Postcolonial criticism studies how powerful countries such as Britain and France ruled other nations and influenced their language, education, traditions, and way of thinking.
That show the how colonized people write inferior, uncevelised, and less important to the
Colonial contry's people that people explain and reinterpretation to this colonial work and gave clear point of view.
Another important idea is to give voice to the oppressed people (called the subaltern) and to highlight their struggles, resistance, and search for identity. It also questions Western superiority and challenges the false images created about Eastern and African societies.
Inspired by thinkers like Edward Said, especially in his book Orientalism, postcolonial criticism reveals how literature can support colonial power or resist it.
Background of Post colonial Criticism :
The background of postcolonial criticism is closely connected with the history of colonialism and imperialism. From the 15th to the 20th century, powerful European countries such as Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal established colonies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They controlled the political systems, economies, education, and cultures of these regions.
During the period of European rural people often write about the interiority and backword in their literature and gave superiority of Western culture more and more. In the 20th century, many countries gained independence after long struggles. And become free from the writing.
They wanted to:
Challenge Western superiority
Recover their lost history and culture
Express their own identity and experiences
Criticize colonial representations
postcolonial criticism was the publication of Orientalism by Edward Said. In this book, Said explained how Western literature created a false image of the East (called “Orientalism”) to maintain power over it.
Other important thinkers like Homi K. Bhabha and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak further developed the theory by discussing ideas like hybridity, mimicry, and the voice of the subaltern.
Main Work of Post colonial Critics :
1.Examine Colonial Power Relations
Critics analysis the relationship between colonial and colonize country. How can control the power full country of politically, culturally, and socially how can western colonial writer put in his literature.
2.Analyze Representation in Literature :
Post colonial critics examine how Western writers described Eastern and African societies. For example, Edward Said in his book Orientalism explained how the West created a false and stereotypical image of the East.
3.Study Identity and Cultural Conflict :
They explore identity crisis, cultural mixing (hybridity), and mimicry. Homi K. Bhabha introduced these concepts to explain how colonized people struggle between two cultures.
4. Challenge Western Superiority :
Post colonial critics question the idea that Western culture is superior. They expose how literature sometimes supports imperial power.
5.Recover Native Culture and History :
Eastern writer gave the answer of the writer and give the importance of his culture and make it appreciate his culture , identity, discrimination and reform of this text or literary work.
Post colonial critics study literature to understand how colonialism influenced culture and identity. They expose injustice, challenge stereotypes, and support the voices of colonized and marginalized people.
Essay :
Feminists criticism and psychoanalysis :
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➡ What is Feminism?
Feminism is a social and political movement that supports equal rights for women and men. It believes that women should have the same opportunities, freedom, and respect as men in education, work, family, and society.
Feminism against :
Gender discrimination
Inequality in society
Patriarchal system (male-dominated society
According to Simone de Beauvoir, a woman is not born but made by society. This means society teaches women how to behave and limits their freedom.
In literary works feminists critic focuse following thing.
- How can writer show women standered In their literary work
- Whether women are shown as weak or strong
- Writer show patriarchal tradition in their work.
- women have their own voice.
➡What is Psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis is a theory developed by Sigmund Freud. It studies the human mind, especially the unconscious mind.
Freud divided the human mind into three parts:
- Id – Basic desires and instincts
- Ego – The practical and realistic part
- Superego – Moral values and rules
He believed that childhood experiences shape personality. He also said that hidden desires affect human behavior.
Later thinkers like Jacques Lacan developed Freud’s ideas and connected psychoanalysis with language and identity.
➡The relationship between Feminism and Psychoanalysis :
Feminism and psychoanalysis are connected because both study human identity and personality
Feminist critics use psychoanalysis to understand. How women’s identity is formed ,How society controls women’s minds ,How female characters think and feel.
However, feminist critics also criticize Freud because:
His ideas were male-centered
He described women as inferior to men
Feminists believe Freud ignored women’s real experiences.
Feminist critics say that Freud’s theory is show the discrimination between men and women. Show the male dominated tradition. He focuses central to the male.
They argue towards psychoanalysis theory that women is not inferior Society creates feelings of inferiority Gender inequality is social, not biological.
➡How did later feminist thinkers combine feminism and psychoanalysis ?
Feminist criticism used this theory that dont totaly rejected but reinterpretation ideas according to the female perspective.
For example :
Luce Irigaray criticized male-dominated language and suggested women They focused on Female unconscious Women’s language Female identity formation need their own way of expression.
➡How is Feminist Psychoanalytic Criticism applied to literature ?
Feminist psychoanalytic critics study:
The inner feelings of female characters
Women’s suppressed desires
Mother–daughter relationships
Silence and oppression
Identity crisis
For example, in That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande:
Jaya feels silent in her marriage
She hides her real emotions
Society controls her identity
A feminist psychoanalytic critic would say:
Jaya’s silence shows psychological oppression
Patriarchy shapes her unconscious mind
She struggles between her true self and social expectations.
➡The main aims of Feminist Psychoanalytic Criticism ?
The main aims :
To understand female identity
To study women’s mental and emotional struggles
To expose male domination in psychology
To give women a voice in literature
It tries to show that: Women’s problems are not natural, but created by society.
Conclusion :
Feminism and psychoanalysis together help us understand women’s identity, oppression, and inner struggles. Feminist critics use psychoanalysis to study women’s minds but also criticize male bias in traditional psychology. Thus, feminist psychoanalytic criticism studies both society and the unconscious mind to explain women’s condition in literature.
Reference
Edward Said. Orientalism. Pantheon Books, 1978.
Ferdinand de Saussure. Course in General Linguistics. McGraw-Hill, 1966.
Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. 1949.
Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams. 1900
https://simone-de-beauvoir.freenovelread.com/44600-the_second_sex?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Interpretation_of_Dreams_%28Freud%29/Chapter_5?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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