Structuralism Theory - This timeline aims to illustrate how structuralism has evolved, examining its application to literature and other cultural phenomena.
By gdantas
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Introduction
By delving into the intersections of structuralism and mythology in literature, we embark on a quest to uncover the underlying patterns and universal themes that transcend individual texts. This exploration not only enhances our appreciation of literary artistry but also deepens our understanding of the human condition and its myriad expressions through storytelling. Join us as we embark on this intellectual journey through the rich tapestry of structuralism and mythology in literature. -
"Saussure's Course in General Linguistics" by Ferdinand de Saussure
Foundational text for Structuralism, introducing concepts such as the sign, signifier, and signified.
Language as a system of signs, synchronic vs. diachronic analysis.
Developed during the early 20th century, influencing many subsequent theories.
Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist, laid the foundation for his seminal work through his lectures. His theoretical framework serves as the basis for structuralist analyses of Poe, Flaubert, and Kafka.
Lays the groundwork for structuralist theory. -
"To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf
Explores the lives of the Ramsay family and their guests over time.
Time, memory, perception.
Written during the modernist period, reflecting experimental narrative techniques.
Virginia Woolf was an influential modernist writer, her work builds on the narrative complexity and psychological depth found in Kafka and Flaubert.
Examines narrative structure, shifting perspectives, and temporal structures. -
"The Morphology of the Folktale" by Vladimir Propp
Analyzes the structure of Russian folktales, identifying common narrative elements.
Functions of characters, narrative structure.
Developed during a time of interest in folklore and formalist analysis.
Vladimir Propp, a Russian folklorist and scholar, pioneered structuralist narrative analysis, extending Saussure's linguistic structural principles to the study of literary texts.
Identifies recurrent structures in folktales, laying the groundwork for structuralist narrative analysis. -
"The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Explores the decline of the Compson family through multiple perspectives and non-linear narrative.
Time, memory, identity.
Written during the modernist period, reflecting experimental narrative techniques.
William Faulkner, an American writer renowned for his intricate narratives, builds upon Virginia Woolf's exploration of consciousness and narrative form in his work.
Analyzes narrative structure, multiple perspectives, and temporal fragmentation. -
"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell
Explores the universal structure of the hero's journey across various myths.
Mythic structure, archetypes, universal patterns.
Written post-World War II, reflecting a search for universal meanings.
Joseph Campbell was an American mythologist and writer. His work synthesizes insights from psychology, anthropology, comparative mythology, literature, and Eastern philosophy.
Identifies universal structures in myths, contributing to the understanding of narrative structures. -
"Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
Follows Humbert Humbert's obsession with the young girl Lolita.
Written during the mid-20th century, challenging contemporary social norms.
Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian-American novelist known for his intricate prose. Lolita builds upon a rich tapestry of literary traditions, intellectual influences, and cultural contexts.
Examines narrative structure, unreliable narration, and the interplay of reality and fiction. -
"Mythologies" by Roland Barthes
A collection of essays analyzing contemporary myths and how they function in society.
Myth as a second-order semiotic system, cultural codes.
Written in post-war France, critiquing mass culture and ideology.
Roland Barthes, a French literary theorist and semiotician, utilizes structuralist methods to dissect cultural phenomena and uncover deeper meanings. His work extends Lévi-Strauss's analysis of myths and applies structuralist principles to contemporary cultural texts. -
"Structural Anthropology" by Claude Lévi-Strauss
Applies structuralist theory to the study of myths and kinship structures in various cultures.
Binary oppositions, myths as cultural structures.
Developed during the mid-20th century, focusing on universal structures in human culture.
Claude Lévi-Strauss was a French anthropologist and ethnologist.
Explores how myths reflect universal cognitive structures.
His theories provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the structural principles underlying both ancient and modern cultures. -
"The Raw and the Cooked" by Claude Lévi-Strauss
Analyzes myths from South American tribes, focusing on culinary metaphors, binary oppositions, to understand cultural structures.
Reflecting the structuralist approach to anthropology.
Claude Lévi-Strauss, a French anthropologist, explores the underlying structures of myths and their cultural significance. His work deepens understanding of binary oppositions and their role in shaping human thought, building upon his earlier contributions to reveal universal structures in human culture. -
10. "For Marx" by Louis Althusser
Collection of essays that reinterpret Marxism through the lens of structuralism.
Structuralist Marxism, ideology, overdetermination.
Written during the 1960s, influencing Marxist theory and structuralism.
Louis Althusser, a French Marxist philosopher, explored ideology and societal structures, integrating structuralist concepts into Marxist theory, expanding structuralism beyond literary studies. His work builds on Lévi-Strauss's principles, applying them to social and ideological structures. -
Écrits" by Jacques Lacan
Collection of writings that apply structuralist ideas to psychoanalysis.
Unconscious structures, language, the mirror stage.
Developed during the mid-20th century, influencing psychoanalytic theory.
Jacques Lacan, a French psychoanalyst, applies structuralist methods to explore the unconscious mind's structures, influencing both psychoanalytic and structuralist thought. His work extends the analysis of human thought into psychoanalysis, building on Althusser's structuralist approach to ideology. -
"S/Z" by Roland Barthes
A detailed structuralist analysis of Balzac's novella "Sarrasine."
Codes and narrative structures, reader's role in constructing meaning.
Developed in the context of post-structuralist critique.
Roland Barthes was a leading figure in literary theory and semiotics.
Breaks down the text into five codes, demonstrating how meaning is constructed.
Barthes's work builds on his earlier essays in "Mythologies" and further develops the application of structuralism to literary texts. -
Conclusion
Throughout this exploration of structuralism and mythology in literature, we have traced a journey that spans diverse intellectual traditions and cultural contexts. From the foundational theories of Ferdinand de Saussure in linguistics to the comparative mythological insights of Joseph Campbell, our understanding of narrative structure, symbolism, and universal themes has deepened significantly.