STRUCTURALIST LITERARY APPROACH || QUARTER 3 WEEK 6 || English 10 || MELC-Based || Aizie Dumuk

Summary

In this video, Teacher Izzy introduces the structuralist literary approach, rooted in the work of Ferdinand de Saussure. The theory focuses on the relationship between signs—signifiers and signified—and how meaning is constructed in language. Through examples such as the word 'tree,' the video explores the arbitrary and binary nature of language. The video also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of structuralism, highlighting its systematic approach to understanding texts while acknowledging its limitation in emotional engagement. Viewers are encouraged to think critically about how language shapes literary meaning, with future lessons promised on other literary theories.

Takeaways

• 😀 The structuralist literary approach focuses on understanding texts through the underlying structures of language and meaning.
• 😀 Structuralism originated with the work of French linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, along with other linguists from Prague and Moscow.
• 😀 Saussure's theory distinguishes between 'lang' (the idealized system of language) and 'parole' (the actual language used in daily life).
• 😀 A 'sign' in language consists of two components: the *signifier* (the word or symbol) and the *signified* (the mental concept it represents).
• 😀 The meaning of a word is arbitrary and culturally constructed, as shown in Saussure's concept of the arbitrariness of the sign.
• 😀 Different cultures may associate different concepts with the same word, such as the word 'god,' which can mean different things to different people.
• 😀 The binary relationship between words means that we define things by what they are not—e.g., 'cold' is understood in contrast to 'hot.'
• 😀 Structuralism allows for a disciplined, historical, and cultural approach to analyzing texts, focusing on language structure.
• 😀 One weakness of structuralism is that it can ignore the emotional and personal connections that readers might have with a text.
• 😀 Structuralism does not provide clarity on who controls meaning in a text—whether it is the author, the reader, or cultural context.
• 😀 The poem *The Song of Flanders* by Charles Baudelaire is used to illustrate how structuralism interprets the text, analyzing the contrast between summer and winter as metaphors for life and death.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to explain the structuralist literary approach, a theory that originated from the work of linguist Ferdinand de Saussure.

Who is Ferdinand de Saussure, and what is his contribution to structuralism?

Ferdinand de Saussure was a French linguist whose work laid the foundation for structuralism. He introduced key concepts like 'signifier' and 'signified,' and the idea that language is a system of signs, where meaning is constructed through relationships between these signs.

What are the key concepts introduced by Saussure in the structuralist approach?

The key concepts introduced by Saussure include: 1) The distinction between *lang* (the idealized system of language) and *parole* (the actual use of language). 2) The signifier (the word or symbol) and the signified (the mental concept it refers to). 3) The arbitrary relationship between the signifier and the signified, meaning that there is no inherent or fixed connection between them. 4) Binary oppositions, where meaning is derived from the contrast between different signs.

What is the difference between *lang* and *parole*?

*Lang* refers to the abstract, idealized system of language, whereas *parole* refers to the actual, everyday use of language by speakers.

What does Saussure mean by 'arbitrary relationship' in language?

The 'arbitrary relationship' means that there is no inherent or fixed connection between the signifier (the word) and the signified (the mental concept). Meaning is culturally constructed and can differ across contexts or languages.

Can you provide an example of the arbitrary relationship between signifier and signified?

An example is the word 'god.' In Christianity, 'god' is associated with Jesus Christ, while in Islam, 'god' refers to Allah. Despite the same signifier (the word 'god'), the mental concept (the signified) is different based on cultural and religious contexts.

How do binary oppositions work in structuralism?

Binary oppositions involve understanding meaning through contrast. For example, the concept of 'hot' is defined in opposition to 'cold,' and the idea of a 'dog' is understood in relation to what it is not—such as a rabbit, a cat, or a fish.

What are the strengths of the structuralist literary approach?

The strengths of structuralism include its ability to analyze texts in a disciplined, historical, and cultural context. It also provides a systematic framework for understanding how meaning is constructed through language.

What are the weaknesses of the structuralist approach?

The weaknesses of structuralism include its focus on linguistic structure, which limits emotional engagement with the text. Additionally, it can be challenging to determine who controls the meaning of a text, as readers are expected to focus solely on its structure.

How does the structuralist approach apply to the poem 'The Song of Photo' by Charles Baudelaire?

In the poem, the first stanza describes the transition from summer to winter, which can be analyzed through structuralism by contrasting the warmth and happiness of summer with the cold and darkness of winter. This contrast helps define the emotional states of the poet and the inevitable passage of time.