Structuralism and its Impact on Literary Analysis

Introduction: Grand Narratives and their Breach In literary analysis, structuralism emerged as a significant theoretical approach to understand the underlying structures and principles governing a text's meaning. Traditional literary works often revolved around grand narratives that encompassed moral values, fate, and rustic virtues. However, the outbreak of World Wars shattered these grand narratives, leading to a profound breach and disintegration of societal norms and values. Victorian Characters: Integration vs. War-induced Disintegration In Victorian literature, characters were often portrayed as integrated individuals, embodying societal values and norms. However, the experience of war caused a drastic shift in human consciousness. The disintegration caused by war shattered the sense of coherence and stability in people's lives, leading to existential dilemmas and a sense of aloofness and loneliness. Indifferent Attitude and Existentialism Post-war literature often cel…