Structuralism What is it? A literary theory that says that you can analyze a text and through it come to understand the larger structure such as the culture, the literary genre, etc.

Structuralists say that everything exists as a part of a larger whole Structuralists say that everything exists as a part of a larger whole. Nothing can truly exist on its own.

The French terms “langue” and “parole” are used in discussion of this theory. “Langue”, refers to the system or structure, the whole. “Parole”, refers to the individual utterance or example within the langue. Therefore, a simple utterance, a play, a dance, a ceremony, etc., can be better understood once one understands the langue under which that parole is acting.

What does this mean for us? What are examples in our culture of “paroles” that help us understand the greater “langue” of our modern American culture? Film industry Schedules, how we spend our time What we spend our money on Advertisements

Connection Turn to your neighbor; using the general theme of “Medieval Theatre” together decide on a langue of that time period. Then choose 2-3 paroles within that langue. Share your results with another partnership.

So what? Why would a study or basic understanding of Stucturalism be of use in this unit - how can we use it to better understand Spanish Golden Age theatre?