Structuralism & Poststructuralism: Complete UGC-NET Guide
Detailed Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction to Structuralist Thought
- 2. Saussure's Structural Linguistics
- 3. Lévi-Strauss & Myth Studies
- 4. Barthes: From Structuralism to Poststructuralism
- 5. Derrida's Deconstruction
- 6. Foucault's Discourse Analysis
- 7. Key Concepts Explained
- 8. Literary Applications
- 9. UGC-NET Practice MCQs with Explanations
- 10. Conclusion: Exam Preparation Strategy
Essential Concepts for UGC-NET
- Structuralism: Langue/parole, binary oppositions, mythemes
- Poststructuralism: Différance, aporia, death of the author
- Key Theorists: Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, Barthes, Derrida, Foucault
- Literary Applications: Textual analysis, intertextuality, discourse
- Comparative Analysis: Structuralism vs. Poststructuralism
1. Introduction to Structuralist Thought
Structuralism emerged in the 1950s-60s as an analytical method examining underlying structures in cultural phenomena, influenced by Ferdinand de Saussure's linguistics.
Core Principles of Structuralism
- Reality is understood through systems of signs
- Meaning derives from relationships within systems (not from individual elements)
- Focus on deep structures rather than surface content
- Cultural phenomena follow universal patterns
- Binary oppositions organize meaning
Poststructuralist Challenges
- Rejects fixed structures and stable meanings
- Emphasizes instability of language and text
- Focuses on multiplicity of interpretations
- Questions binary oppositions and hierarchies
- Examines power relations in discourse
2. Saussure's Structural Linguistics
Ferdinand de Saussure's Course in General Linguistics (1916) established foundational concepts for structuralism.
Key Saussurean Concepts
| Concept | Definition | Literary Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Langue vs. Parole | Langue (language system) vs. Parole (individual speech acts) | Analyzing literary conventions vs. individual texts |
| Sign = Signifier + Signified | Signifier (sound/image) + Signified (concept) | How literary meaning is constructed |
| Arbitrariness | No natural connection between signifier and signified | Conventional nature of literary symbols |
| Syntagmatic & Paradigmatic | Linear combinations vs. substitution choices | Analyzing narrative structure and word choices |
Literary Application
Analyzing Shakespeare's sonnets through:
- Langue: Sonnet conventions (14 lines, iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme)
- Parole: Individual sonnets as unique instances
- Signifiers: Words chosen and their sound patterns
- Syntagmatic: Linear progression of ideas in the poem
"In language there are only differences without positive terms." - Saussure, Course in General Linguistics
3. Lévi-Strauss & Myth Studies
Claude Lévi-Strauss applied structural methods to anthropology, particularly in analyzing myths across cultures.
Key Concepts in Myth Analysis
| Concept | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Binary Oppositions | Paired conceptual opposites structuring meaning | Nature/Culture, Raw/Cooked in myths |
| Mythemes | Basic units of myth (like phonemes in language) | Recurring plot elements across cultures |
| Universal Structures | Common patterns in all human cultures | Oedipus myth variations worldwide |
Analysis of the Oedipus Myth
Lévi-Strauss broke the myth into mythemes showing binary oppositions:
- Overrating vs. underrating of blood relations
- Denial vs. persistence of autochthonous origin
- Monstrous beings vs. their destruction
This revealed the myth's mediation of fundamental human contradictions.
UGC-NET Focus: Lévi-Strauss' concept of binary oppositions and mythemes frequently appears in questions about structuralist approaches to literature.
4. Barthes: From Structuralism to Poststructuralism
Roland Barthes' work bridges structuralism and poststructuralism, particularly in his seminal essay "The Death of the Author."
Evolution of Barthes' Thought
| Structuralist Phase | Poststructuralist Phase |
|---|---|
| Analyzed cultural "codes" in texts | Emphasized text's plurality of meaning |
| Mythologies (1957) - decoding cultural signs | S/Z (1970) - multiple interpretive codes |
| Search for underlying structures | "Death of the Author" (1967) - birth of the reader |
Key Barthesian Concepts
- Death of the Author: Meaning resides with readers, not authorial intent
- Writerly vs. Readerly Texts: Open vs. closed textual experiences
- Intertextuality: Texts as mosaics of other texts
- Five Codes: Hermeneutic, proairetic, semantic, symbolic, cultural
"The birth of the reader must be at the cost of the death of the Author." - Barthes, The Death of the Author
5. Derrida's Deconstruction
Jacques Derrida developed deconstruction as a poststructuralist method revealing textual instabilities.
Key Derridean Concepts
| Concept | Definition | Literary Application |
|---|---|---|
| Différance | Meaning both deferred and differing (spelling indicates both) | Unstable meanings in literary texts |
| Binary Oppositions | Hierarchical pairs (speech/writing) that can be deconstructed | Challenging text's apparent hierarchies |
| Aporia | Point of undecidability in a text | Moments that resist clear interpretation |
| Trace | Presence of absence in signification | What the text hints at but doesn't state |
Deconstructing Nature/Culture Binary
Derrida challenged Lévi-Strauss' nature/culture opposition by showing:
- The incest prohibition belongs to both categories
- This "scandal" undermines the binary's stability
- Reveals the arbitrary nature of such oppositions
UGC-NET Focus: Derrida's différance and concept of binary oppositions are frequently tested in poststructuralism questions.
6. Foucault's Discourse Analysis
Michel Foucault examined how power operates through discourse and knowledge systems.
Key Foucauldian Concepts
| Concept | Definition | Literary Application |
|---|---|---|
| Discourse | Structures of knowledge/power producing subjects | How literature participates in power systems |
| Episteme | Historical unconscious framework of knowledge | Analyzing period-specific literary norms |
| Archaeology | Method analyzing historical discursive formations | Tracing literary genre developments |
| Power/Knowledge | Power produces knowledge and vice versa | Literature as site of power negotiation |
Foucault's Analysis of Madness
In Madness and Civilization, Foucault showed how:
- Discourses construct categories like "sanity" and "madness"
- Institutions (asylums) enforce these discursive constructions
- Literature both reflects and challenges these discourses
"Discourse is not simply that which translates struggles or systems of domination, but is the thing for which and by which there is struggle." - Foucault
7. Key Concepts Explained
| Term | Definition | Theorist |
|---|---|---|
| Différance | Meaning's endless deferral through language's play of differences | Derrida |
| Langue/Parole | Language system vs. individual speech acts | Saussure |
| Death of the Author | Reader-centered meaning over authorial intent | Barthes |
| Mytheme | Basic structural unit of myth | Lévi-Strauss |
| Discourse | Socially constructed knowledge systems | Foucault |
Structuralism vs. Poststructuralism
| Structuralism | Poststructuralism |
|---|---|
| Seeks stable structures | Rejects fixed structures |
| Binary oppositions | Deconstructs binaries |
| Scientific approach | Philosophical skepticism |
| Universal patterns | Local, contingent meanings |
| Objective analysis | Subjective interpretation |
8. Literary Applications
Structuralist & Poststructuralist Readings
| Text | Approach | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Oedipus Rex | Structuralist (Lévi-Strauss) | Binary oppositions in the myth's structure |
| To the Lighthouse | Poststructuralist | Multiple meanings, deferred interpretations |
| The Waste Land | Intertextuality (Barthes) | Text as mosaic of cultural references |
| Heart of Darkness | Discourse Analysis (Foucault) | Colonial discourse and power/knowledge |
| Shakespeare's Sonnets | Deconstruction (Derrida) | Undecidability in poetic meaning |
Sample Analysis: Frankenstein
Structuralist: Binary oppositions (creator/created, human/monster, nature/artifice)
Poststructuralist: Deconstruction of these binaries showing their instability
Foucauldian: Scientific discourse and its power to define humanity
9. UGC-NET Practice MCQs with Explanations
1. The concept of "langue" and "parole" in literary theory was introduced by:
- Ferdinand de Saussure
- Claude Lévi-Strauss
- Roland Barthes
Explanation: Saussure distinguished between langue (language system) and parole (individual speech acts).
2. Who proposed the concept of "mythemes" in structural analysis of narratives?
- Roman Jakobson
- Claude Lévi-Strauss
- Gerard Genette
- Jonathan Culler
Explanation: Lévi-Strauss analyzed myths through minimal units called mythemes.
3. The essay "The Death of the Author" was written by:
- Michel Foucault
- Jacques Derrida
- Roland Barthes
- Julia Kristeva
Explanation: Barthes' 1967 essay shifted focus from author to reader.
4. Derrida's term "différance" combines the meanings of:
- Signifier and signified
- To differ and to defer
- Language and speech
Explanation: Différance plays on French verbs différer (to differ) and différer (to defer).
5. Match the following theorists with their key concepts:
| Theorist | Concept |
|---|---|
| 1. Michel Foucault | A. Différance |
| 2. Roland Barthes | B. Discourse |
| 3. Jacques Derrida | C. Death of the Author |
- 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
- 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
- 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
- 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
Explanation: Correct matching is Foucault-Discourse, Barthes-Death of the Author, Derrida-Différance.
10. Conclusion: Exam Preparation Strategy
Structuralism and Poststructuralism form a crucial component of UGC-NET literary theory questions.
Key Areas for Focus
- Theorist-Concept Matching: Which ideas belong to which thinkers
- Terminology: Precise definitions of key terms
- Comparative Analysis: Differences between structuralism/poststructuralism
- Textual Applications: How theories apply to literary works
Memorization Tips
Structuralism (SLB):
- Saussure - Langue/Parole
- Lévi-Strauss - Binary Oppositions
- Barthes - Early structural analyses
Poststructuralism (BDF):
- Barthes - Death of the Author
- Derrida - Deconstruction
- Foucault - Discourse
Final Revision Checklist
- ✓ Saussure's structural linguistics
- ✓ Lévi-Strauss' myth analysis
- ✓ Barthes' evolution to poststructuralism
- ✓ Derrida's deconstruction
- ✓ Foucault's discourse theory
- ✓ Key terminology and distinctions
"There is nothing outside the text." - Derrida, emphasizing the endless play of signification
