Structuralism and Literary Criticism: Gerard Genette

Structuralism and Literary Criticism: Gerard Genette

Gérard Genette (born 1930) is a French literary theorist, associated in particular with the structuralist movement and such figures as Roland Barthes and Claude Lévi-Strauss, from whom he adapted the concept of bricolage.

In literary theory, Structuralism is an approach to analysing the narrative material by examining the underlying invariant structure .There are many Structuralist critics like Ferdinand Saussure, Gerard Genette , Roland Barthes, Claude Levi-Strauss etc. Structuralist critics found basic common structure in every work. As all the human beings have a same structure from inside, similarly literature has basic structure and it is same everywhere whether it movies, TV serials or advertisement etc.

In order to understand structuralism , we must understand the three word Sign, Signifier, and Signified.

Sign – Sound or word

Signifier– popping up of image in mind

Signified – Something already there

In Genette’s words, ‘if the writer questions the universe, the critic questions literature, that is to say, the universe of signs. But what was a sign for the writer (the work) becomes meaning for the critic (since it is the object of the critical discourse), and in another way what was meaning for the writer (his view of the world) becomes a sign for the critic, as the theme and symbol of a certain literary nature’.

In Bollywood films we find the basic structure. Most of the Hindi movies have same structure of revenge but there representation is different.

To view examples CLICK HERE

Many literary texts have same structure

For example: - “Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe and “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. In both the text we find that the protagonists have hubris and quest of knowledge which leads to their downfall. Same we find in many movies also downfall of villains due to hubris.

Here I would like to refer to Northrop Frye: The Archetypes of Literature

" Frye identified common pattern in every work of art. So he talks about the totality of literature. According to him all are connected somewhere. And when we do criticism from this perspective, It is Archetypal criticism. And Archetypal critics finds this sort of recurring pattern in literature. Narrative technique, Hero, structure are same everywhere."

Reference:-

http://dilipbarad.blogspot.in/2015/03/structuralism-and-literary-criticism.html

Comments

"RIP"; Rest in Peace those who are Alive....

Hello Friends, After a long time I am writing here. Hope you all are fine. This time I have come up with a different interpretation of the phrase “RIP”. Mostly this phrase “RIP”; Rest in Peace is used for the people who are no more. We use this phrase to give sympathy towards the departed soul. The soul may get peace wherever it travels. No one exactly knows where the soul travels. Sometimes this phrase is used out of care and sometimes just for show off on social media. While sitting alone near a cemetery, a thought struck in my mind. Why do we use RIP only for dead people????? We can also use it for those who are alive. Many time people use RIP when a person is dead. The same people might have harassed the dead person when he is alive. So what’s the point of “RIP”? Suppose in the day time you behave very badly with someone. Is he/she going to get sound and peaceful sleep at night? The dead person will never come back so we just say “RIP”. Of course ever...

“My friend, the things that do attain” - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Hello friends, I would like to share a poem which I studied during my graduation. The title of the poem is “My friend, the things that do attain”. It is written by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1516/1517 – 19 January 1547), was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry. MY friend, the things that do attain The happy life be these, I find: The riches left, not got with pain; The fruitful ground; the quiet mind; The equal friend; no grudge; no strife; No charge of rule, nor governance; Without disease, the healthy life; The household of continuance; The mean diet, no dainty fare; Wisdom joined with simpleness; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress: The faithful wife, without debate; Such sleeps as may beguile the night; Content thyself with thine estate, Neither wish death, nor fear his might. In the above mentioned poem, there is a list ...

" The Winged Word"- David Green

In my Graduation syllabus, I had a book named “ The Winged word”. This anthology is edited by David Green. It is anthology of poems compiled for the students of English literature in the B.A courses of Indian Universities. The chronological order, in which the poets are arranged in this book, helps the students to note the development of English poetry from one age to another. Referring to this book after a long time span, gives me a immense joy. There are many poems in this book. We were given some selected poems to study during three years of graduation. The poems which were in my syllabus are as follow:- 1.) I Find No Peace – Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-42) 2.) My Friend, the Things That Do Attain –Henry Howard (1517- 47) 3.) The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd –Sir Walter Ralegh (1552-1618) 4.) The Nightingale – Sir Philip Sidney (1554- 86) 5.) Since There’s No Help – Michael...

Vaidehi Hariyani

Search This Blog