Literary Analysis Deconstructive Perspective Where does the text fall apart? Catherine Wishart Adjunct Instructor

Definition of Deconstruction Does not mean “destruction” A form of analysis: “careful teasing out of warring forces of signification within the text itself” (Cuddon 210) looks at how a text differs with itself analyzes the innate ambiguity of human communication Structuralism views how opposites help lead to a fruitful ending; deconstruction views how opposites impact alternate interpretations

A Deconstructive Critic’s Focus While deconstructive critics focus on opposites (like structuralists do), they also examine texts for where the meaning falls apart: Challenge an ideology presumed to be the status quo in a text Point out contradictions in the text Look for ambiguities and see them as a flaw instead of a writing strategy Look for ambivalence and view this as a point where the text unravels

Deconstruction Analyzes How Cultural Hierarchies Impact on Voice Challenging ideologies means challenging stereotypes and how certain people get and hold on to power “Historically, groups traditionally ignored, suppressed, oppressed, and disadvantaged have effectively used deconstruction to question traditional notions of race, class, gender, nationality, etc.” (http://home.mesastate.edu/~blaga/deconstruction/deconstructiox.html).

The Deconstructive Belief Language, as our main source of communication, is inherently flawed Language is often self-contradictory and self-destroying Language, as a fluid entity, is unstable and cannot be controlled by writers These inconsistencies lead to an undermining of each text’s “logical or meaningful structure” A meaning that seems to be clear is not clear at all.

How Do Texts Fall Apart? “Deconstruction views texts as subversively undermining an apparent or surface meaning” “Practitioners of deconstruction celebrate the text’s self-destruction”: Internal contradiction Free play of language Text always in a state of change that furnishes “only provisional meanings” “Deconstruction involves taking apart any meaning to reveal contradictory structures within”(Guerin 377).

Deconstructing A Sign

What Does This Sign Mean? Diamond-shaped placement indicates danger Turning a square to sit on an angle indicates precariousness for sign and message The message is: when it rains on this road, there will be water on the roadway “Caution” sends a clear message The sign provides a warning that should be heeded “Water on Road” Indicates possible hazardous conditions “During Rain” Forced onto two lines Explains when the hazard is likely to occur

Or Does It Mean??? Is this tongue-in-cheek? Why is it odd that there will be water on a road during a rainstorm? Do other roads remain dry when it rains? Does missing punctuation change who is being warned? “Caution: water on road during rain” makes it clear the driver is being warned With no colon, should sign read “Caution to water on road during rain.” Water warned that it will be pelted by passing cars during a rainstorm Why does the author assume the water can read? The only time water is on the road is during a rain storm Road must immediately dry after rain No danger after the storm – only time of danger is “during rain”

Practicing Deconstruction Each group will choose a road sign to “deconstruct.” Determine what you believe the intended meaning of the road sign is. Answer these questions: What oppositions exist? How is this shown? What elements suggest an alternate interpretation of meaning? To whom is the sign speaking? How does the intended audience change its meaning? Does anyone benefit from the alternate meaning? If so, who? Orally present your analysis to the class

Checklist of Deconstructive Critical Questions What oppositions exist in the work? Which of the two opposing terms of each pair is the privileged or more powerful term? How is this shown in the work? What textual elements (descriptive details, images, incident, passages) suggest a contradiction or alternative to the privileged or more powerful term? What is the prevailing ideology or set of cultural assumptions in the work? Where are these assumptions evident? What passages of the work most reveal gaps, inconsistencies, or contradictions? How stable is the text? How decidable is its meaning? (DiYanni 1587-88).

Structuring a Deconstructive Critique Essay Explain how the text seems to be unified. Point out the binary oppositions in the text and seem to accept them. Acknowledge what the text seems to say about society, culture, gender roles, ethnicities, etc. Explain the structure of the piece and how it seems to play together. Explain where these “unified” points, especially binary pairs, fall apart. Point out where meaning seems to unravel Explain how the text contradicts its own philosophy Zero in on ironies present in the text Emphasize where something that seems coherent and unified is actually ambiguous or vague Explain the implications of the unraveling of the text Who benefits from the possibility of different readings? Who loses because the text can be interpreted differently? How does the ambiguity/vagueness/irony within the text impact the value of the text? Make sure to keep the essay formal, but it should also be a delight to read – it should play with language and its meaning. There should be a sort of playfulness in the writing itself. http://home.mesastate.edu/~blaga/deconstruction/deconstructiox.html.

References DiYanni, Robert. Literature Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 2nd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008. Print. Guerin, Wilfred L., Labor, Earle, Morgan, Lee, Reesman, Jeanne C., Willingham, John R. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. 5th ed. NY: Oxford U P, 2005. Print. Lagal, Barry. Reading With an Eye on the Structurality of Structure: An Introduction to Poststructuralists and Deconstructionists. http://home.mesastate.edu/~blaga/deconstruction/deconstructiox.html.