Structuralism, founded by Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, is a socio-linguistic and intellectual movement that focuses on the structure of language and has implications in various fields. It emphasizes the system of signs, where meanings are derived from relationships between signifiers and signifieds, indicating that language shapes reality rather than merely reflecting it. The document outlines key principles of structuralism, examines its application in literature, and discusses its relevance in understanding cultural artifacts.

1. Structuralism
Haleshappa VV
Research scholar English

2. Structuralism is :-
- A socio linguistic and an intellectual movement. Key figure of this movement was
Ferdinand de Saussure ( A Swiss Linguist). Its origin is from the work of Saussure.
The basic concern is the study of the structure of language. Later it came to be
applied to many other fields.
- sometimes it has been regarded as,
1. Romantic
2. Neo-positivist
3. A sinister euphemism ( for a political device)
4. The tool of new and secret power etc.
- Roland Barths (in)famous of the structuralists said, structuralism as a “ certain mode
of analysis of cultural artifacts”.

3. Saussure three view on Language:
- System of sign – signifier and signified
- Two components of Language :
1. langue
2. parole
- Three principles of language:
1. Arbitrariness
2. Relationality
3. Systematicity

5. Examples of Signifier and Signified:
- The color “Red”- it gives us many different meanings. Red means to stop,
fear, bloodshed, purity, fertility, seduction, love and beauty. When a
woman gets married she puts red powder on her forehead known as
‘sindoor’. In South Africa red means mourning. In their flag red symbolizes
violence . In Thailand culture red is associated with Surya (sun). Red light
which means brothel area also.
- In English we call ‘rice ‘. In the South India many states have different
names for rice. In Karnataka it is ‘Anna’, Telengana it is ‘Annam’. But in
North India it is ‘ chaaval ‘. Here , signifier are arbitrary and signified is
same.
- The ‘butter milk’ is in English. Majjige in Karnataka, Majjiga in AP, and
moor in Tamilnadu and mooru Kerala. Chhaachh ,in North India. Butter
milk is same thing but in different community or language it is called by
different name . Here signifier is arbitray and signified is same.
-

9. SAUSSURE VIEW ON LANGUAGE
MEANINGS ARE ATTRIBUTED
- The Language is fundamentally rational. Saussure objects its and says language
produces reality not reflects reality.
- Traditional thought-reality-mirror of thought and based on a universal logic.
-Language exists in a kind of totality.

10. - Differentiation of words in language takes place within two
kinds of relationship.
- Paradigmatic and syntagmatic.
For examples
john - dance
he - plays
river - flows
dog - bite
- the relationship doesn’t exist between two noun verbs
or pronouns
- Syntagmatic are crucial to the definition of the word .
- Flees , moves and runs. If a word lost some relationships or gained
others it would be lose its formal identity.
- If there were no word ‘flee’ the word ‘flow’ would become a subtly
different word- paradigmatic

11. Tippu Sulatn :
Khasa Chamaraja Wodeyar IX : 1774-
1796
1782-1799

13. summing up :
- Structuralism is an extremely useful and well
organized approach to literary and culturally
text.
- It doesn’t interpret the sequence of events or
try to find out what they mean
- Language is a composed ‘system’ of signs.
The relation of these elements are inseparable.

14. Structuralism in literature:
Elements of the texts:
- Use of diction
- Punctuation
- Literary terms
- Cognitive meaning
- Sound system

15. “If someone mystical art of lovers who think of every
criticism as a dissection and every dissection as destruction
of pleasure were to think logically, then ‘wow’ would be the
best criticism of the greatest work of art”.
Friedrich Schlegel
“We murder to dissect”.
- William Wordsworth

16. Interpreting
The Sick Rose
Structuralist point of view

17. THE SICK ROSE
O Rose, thou art sick!
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy;
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
- William Blake