Structuralism: How Patterns Shape Meaning in Literature

 Structuralism: How Patterns Shape Meaning in Literature

Structuralism suggests that nothing exists or gains meaning in isolation. Everything—whether a story, a word, or even a cultural practice—should be analysed in the context of the larger system or structure it belongs to. The first thing you have to get used to when you begin to study structuralism is that common uses of the word structure do not necessarily imply structuralist activity. For example, you are not engaged in structuralist activity if you examine the physical structure of a building to discover if it is physically stable or aesthetically pleasing (Tyson, 2014).

For example:

• A word's meaning comes from itself and its relationship to other words in a language system.
• A character in a story can only be understood about other characters and the overall narrative structure.

Structuralism encourages us to look at the bigger picture. It focuses on understanding the connections and patterns between elements rather than isolating a single part. The meaning of an object or event does not exist within the object itself. The meaning comes from how we, as individuals, see and interpret it. For example, when we look at a work of art, its meaning is not just in the painting—it is created by how we understand and experience it.

After briefly explaining, we will explore major figures and key concepts in Structuralism. Then, we will show you this theory in a work.

Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) was a Swiss linguist whose ideas laid the foundation for structuralism, which became an important approach in the study of language and literary theory in the 1950s and 1960s. Before Saussure, linguistic scholars focused mainly on the history of languages, such as how languages developed and their historical relationships with each other. However, Saussure shifted the focus to how language works in the present, emphasizing the patterns and functions of language as it is used today. He was particularly interested in how meaning is created and maintained, and how grammatical structures play a role in this process. His work transformed the way language and literature are analysed, moving away from historical concerns to exploring the underlying structures that shape meaning in communication. Saussure's work focused on understanding language as a system of signs that function in the present, rather than just studying its history.

Roland Barthes (1915-1980) applied structuralist methods to modern culture, examining everyday cultural phenomena through the lens of symbols, values, and beliefs. In his 1957 book Mythologies, Barthes analysed common cultural elements in modern France, many of which had never been studied in this intellectual way before.

For example, he compared boxing and wrestling, two sports that appear similar but have different cultural meanings. Boxing, Barthes argued, represents stoic endurance and repression. Boxers don’t show pain when they’re hit, they follow strict rules, and they fight as themselves—there’s no performance or fantasy involved. In contrast, wrestling is more theatrical, with fighters displaying exaggerated emotions and dramatic struggles. Wrestlers fight as larger-than-life heroes or villains, performing for the audience.

Barthes used this comparison to show how each sport fits into a broader cultural structure. Boxing reflects the endurance required in everyday life, while wrestling symbolizes the ultimate battles between good and evil. His structuralist approach takes individual items or events and places them in a larger framework, revealing deeper meanings and layers of significance. This is a key characteristic of structuralism: understanding something by examining its place within a bigger structure.

Ferdinand de Saussure introduced the concepts of langue and parole to explain how language works:

1.     Langue: This refers to the entire system or structure of language – the rules, conventions, and shared understanding that all speakers of a language have. For example, the rules of grammar, vocabulary, and syntax in a language like French.

2.     Parole: This refers to individual utterances or spoken/written expressions made by people. For example, a specific sentence spoken in French, like "Je mange une pomme" (I’m eating an apple), is parole.

To understand a single sentence (parole), you need to know the whole system (langue). For example, if you hear someone speaking French, you can understand their sentence only because you're familiar with the rules and vocabulary of French.

In literature, parole would be an individual work, like the novel Middlemarch, while langue would be the general structure or genre of the novel, which is a shared practice among writers and readers.

In simpler terms: Langue is the whole system of language, and parole is a single instance or example of that system in use. Both rely on each other to make sense.

1.     Analyzing Stories: Structuralists look at stories and connect them to bigger ideas like:

o    The rules of a specific genre (e.g., mystery or romance).

o    How the story connects to other stories.

o    Basic storytelling patterns are found in all stories, no matter the culture.

o    Common ideas or themes that appear throughout the story.

2.     Looking at Language Structures: Structuralists compare stories to how language works. For example:

o    Levi-Strauss used the idea of "mythemes," which are small units of meaning in a story, like how words in a language are built from smaller parts.

3.     Focusing on the Text, Not the Author: Structuralists care only about the text itself. They don’t look at who wrote it or the author's life story. They just study the structure of the story.

4.     Using Language Theories: They use ideas from linguists like Saussure to study how words and signs (symbols) work in literature.

5.     Finding Common Patterns: Structuralists look for repeating themes or ideas in a story. They believe these patterns help us understand the meaning of the text.

1.     Parallels

2.     Echoes

3.     Reflections/Repetitions

4.     Contrasts

5.     Patterns

6.     Plot/Structure

7.     Character/Motive

8.     Situation/Circumstance

9.     Language/Imagery

Structuralism seeks to uncover the "big picture" or hidden meaning within a text. It suggests that everything is "textual," composed of signs and language that acquire meaning through patterns, often connected to other texts. This theory laid the foundation for Deconstructive Criticism, particularly with the use of binary oppositions—where one term is privileged over the other, like good/bad, sweet/bitter, etc. Structuralism focuses on identifying these binary patterns or repetitions in literary genres and individual stories, exploring how they mirror societal structures and norms.

• Characters: Little Red Riding Hood, the grandmother, the wolf.
• Roles:
• The girl represents innocence.
• The wolf represents danger or evil.
• The grandmother represents safety and comfort.
• Settings: The forest (uncertainty and danger), the house (security).

The story gets its meaning from how these parts interact. Structuralists also say that this isn’t just one story; many stories have similar structures, and by studying them, we can find common patterns.

Understanding Language

Let’s look at words in a language. For example, the word "home."

• On its own, "home" is just a word. But when we hear it, we think of warmth, family, and safety.
• Structuralists say the meaning of a word comes not from the word itself but from how it relates to other words in the system of language.

A Real-Life Example

Think about a soccer game.

• You can’t understand football just by looking at the ball. You need to know the rules, the players, the teams, and how they interact. Structuralists would say, "To understand anything, you need to understand the whole system it belongs to."