Structuralism and Post-Structuralism: A Guide for English Literature Students

Question 1

Which of the following is a fundamental principle of structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Texts possess underlying structures that determine their meaning.

Answer

Meaning is unstable and constantly shifting.

Answer

The author's intention is paramount in interpreting a text.

Answer

Readers play an active role in constructing meaning.

Question 2

Who is widely regarded as the pioneer of structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 3

In structuralist semiology, what is the distinction between a signifier and a signified?

Accepted Answer

The signifier is the physical form of a sign, while the signified is its concept.

Answer

The signified is the physical form of a sign, while the signifier is its concept.

Answer

The signifier and signified are inseparable and mutually dependent.

Answer

There is no distinction between a signifier and a signified.

Question 4

How does deconstruction differ fundamentally from structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Deconstruction emphasizes the instability and indeterminacy of meaning, while structuralism seeks to uncover fixed structures.

Answer

Structuralism emphasizes the instability and indeterminacy of meaning, while deconstruction seeks to uncover fixed structures.

Answer

Deconstruction and structuralism share similar assumptions about the nature of meaning.

Answer

Deconstruction is a more recent development than structuralism.

Question 5

Which of the following is a foundational concept in structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Language is a system of interconnected signs.

Answer

Meaning arises solely from the reader's interpretation.

Answer

The author's intentions are inconsequential in determining meaning.

Answer

Texts are fundamentally fragmented and lacking inherent unity.

Question 6

Who is widely recognized as the pioneer of structuralism in literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 7

Which of the following ideas is central to post-structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Texts can be interpreted in diverse and multifaceted ways.

Answer

Meaning is fixed and unchanging.

Answer

Language is a transparent and objective medium.

Answer

The reader has no influence on the meaning of a text.

Question 8

Who is primarily associated with the concept of deconstruction?

Accepted Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 9

According to structuralism, how is the relationship between signifier and signified characterized?

Accepted Answer

They are arbitrary and established by convention.

Answer

They are inherently linked by natural connections.

Answer

They are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist.

Answer

They can be interchanged without altering the meaning.

Question 10

Which central concept of structuralism posits that language is arbitrary and conventional?

Accepted Answer

Language is arbitrary and conventional.

Answer

Meaning is created by the reader.

Answer

Texts are composed of binary oppositions.

Answer

Language reflects the unconscious mind.

Question 11

Who is widely regarded as the pioneering figure in structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Michel Foucault

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Roland Barthes

Question 12

Which key feature characterizes post-structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Emphasizes the instability and fluidity of meaning.

Answer

Privileges the author's intention as the sole source of meaning.

Answer

Considers texts as closed and finite systems.

Answer

Focuses solely on the role of the reader in creating meaning.

Question 13

Which theorist is primarily associated with the concept of 'deconstruction'?

Accepted Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Michel Foucault

Answer

Roland Barthes

Question 14

Which approach to literary analysis aligns with post-structuralist principles?

Accepted Answer

Exploring the multiple and potentially contradictory meanings within a text.

Answer

Reading a poem as a series of fixed and stable binary oppositions.

Answer

Identifying the author's intended meaning as the primary focus.

Answer

Analyzing the text's deep structure as the sole source of meaning.

Question 15

Identify the key concept of structuralism: language operates as

Accepted Answer

A system of signs with internal rules

Answer

A direct expression of the author's intent

Answer

Irrelevant to the interpretation of texts

Answer

A reflection of the social context

Question 16

In post-structuralism, the role of the reader in constructing meaning is emphasized as:

Accepted Answer

Active interpretation and construction

Answer

Passive acceptance of the encoded meaning

Answer

Irrelevant to the meaning of the text

Answer

Guided solely by the author's intent

Question 17

How has structuralism impacted literary studies?

Accepted Answer

Increased focus on literary form and structure

Answer

Reduced emphasis on historical and social context

Answer

Limited the scope of literary analysis

Answer

Objectified literary interpretation

Question 18

Identify a limitation of structuralism:

Accepted Answer

Being overly rigid and deterministic

Answer

Overlooking the author's perspective

Answer

Neglecting the reader's response

Answer

Failing to account for literary complexity

Question 19

Which theorist proposed the concept of 'signifier' and 'signified'?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 20

What is the primary distinction between structuralism and post-structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism emphasizes an underlying structure in texts, while post-structuralism rejects this notion.

Answer

Structuralism focuses on individual words, while post-structuralism examines words in their context.

Answer

Structuralism promotes objectivity, while post-structuralism embraces subjectivity.

Answer

Structuralism is a product of the 18th century, while post-structuralism is a response to modernism.

Question 21

Which post-structuralist theorist argued that meaning is constantly deferred?

Accepted Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Michel Foucault

Answer

Judith Butler

Question 22

Which is NOT a feature of post-structuralist literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Priority of authorial intent as the ultimate source of meaning.

Answer

Emphasis on context and reader participation in meaning-making.

Answer

Rejection of a singular 'correct' interpretation.

Answer

Focus on analyzing literary language and style.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a key concept of structuralism?

Accepted Answer

The reader's interpretation is irrelevant to the meaning of the text.

Answer

Language is a system of signs governed by rules.

Answer

Meaning is determined by the structure of the text.

Answer

Literary texts are self-contained entities.

Question 24

Which of the following theorists is NOT associated with structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Michel Foucault

Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Claude Lévi-Strauss

Answer

Roland Barthes

Question 25

Post-structuralism emerged as a critique of which literary movement?

Accepted Answer

Modernism

Answer

Romanticism

Answer

Realism

Answer

Gothicism

Question 26

Which of the following is a characteristic of post-structuralist literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Deconstruction of binary oppositions and questioning of fixed meanings.

Answer

Emphasis on authorial intent.

Answer

Focus solely on the reader's experience.

Answer

Adherence to traditional literary canons.

Question 27

How does structuralism approach the analysis of literary texts?

Accepted Answer

By examining the relationships between elements within the text and their contribution to the overall structure.

Answer

By focusing on the author's biography and personal experiences.

Answer

By considering only the text's cultural and historical context.

Answer

By evaluating the text's moral and ethical value.

Question 28

According to post-structuralists, the meaning of a text is:

Accepted Answer

Created by the reader in interaction with the text.

Answer

Fixed and unchanging, determined by the author's intention.

Answer

Determined solely by the author's cultural and historical context.

Answer

Non-existent, as meaning is fluid and constantly evolving.

Question 29

Which of the following terms is associated with structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Binary oppositions (e.g., male/female, nature/culture)

Answer

Free play of signifiers (where meaning is not fixed but constantly shifts)

Answer

Author's intention as the primary determinant of meaning

Answer

Organic unity (where all elements of a text work together harmoniously)

Question 30

How does post-structuralism challenge the traditional concept of the author?

Accepted Answer

By denying the existence of a singular, fixed authorial voice.

Answer

By emphasizing the author's role as the sole creator and authority on the meaning of the text.

Answer

By highlighting the influence of other texts and cultural contexts on the author's work.

Answer

By reducing the author to a passive observer of the text's creation.

Question 31

Which concept is NOT a central tenet of structuralism in literary theory?

Accepted Answer

The author's intention is the sole determinant of a text's interpretation.

Answer

Language is a system of interconnected signs.

Answer

Meaning is generated by the structure of a text.

Answer

Literary texts resemble self-sufficient systems that can be analyzed independently of their context.

Question 32

Which prominent theorist is widely regarded as the founder of structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Claude Lévi-Strauss

Question 33

Which technique is commonly employed in post-structuralist literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

Deconstruction

Answer

Dialectical criticism

Answer

Character-based interpretation

Answer

Biographical analysis

Question 34

Which idea lies at the core of post-structuralist theory?

Accepted Answer

Meaning is fluid and constantly evolving, defying fixed interpretations.

Answer

Language transparently reflects the objective world.

Answer

Authors hold absolute authority in determining a text's meaning.

Answer

Literary texts transcend historical and cultural contexts.

Question 35

Which potential limitation is associated with structuralist literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

It risks oversimplifying the complexity of literary texts.

Answer

It is only applicable to works of modern literature.

Answer

It cannot be combined with other literary theories.

Answer

It is solely focused on analyzing the surface features of texts.

Question 36

In what way does post-structuralism deviate from structuralism?

Accepted Answer

It emphasizes the instability and fluidity of meaning.

Answer

It prioritizes the role of the author's intention.

Answer

It rejects the concept of the text as an autonomous entity.

Answer

It focuses exclusively on the linguistic aspects of literature.

Question 37

Which type of literary text is most suitable for a post-structuralist analysis?

Accepted Answer

An experimental novel characterized by fragmented language and shifting perspectives

Answer

A conventional narrative novel with a clear plotline

Answer

A non-fictional text presenting a single, objective viewpoint

Answer

A traditional poem employing conventional rhyme scheme and meter

Question 38

In deconstruction theory, what is the concept of 'différance'?

Accepted Answer

Meaning is constantly deferred and displaced, never fixed.

Answer

Language can convey ideas without distortions.

Answer

Texts can be interpreted independently of their context.

Answer

The author's intention is the only valid interpretation of a text.

Question 39

When analyzing a poem, a structuralist critic would primarily focus on:

Accepted Answer

Identifying underlying binary oppositions in the poem's language and imagery.

Answer

Interpreting the poem's metaphors and symbols to uncover its hidden meaning.

Answer

Examining the poem's rhyme scheme and meter to analyze its musical qualities.

Question 40

Identify a core concept in structuralist literary theory:

Accepted Answer

Binary oppositions

Answer

Intertextuality

Answer

Performativity

Answer

Deconstruction

Question 41

According to Ferdinand de Saussure's theory of semiology, the sign is characterized as:

Accepted Answer

Arbitrary and conventional

Answer

Subjective and personal

Answer

Natural and iconic

Answer

Transparent and direct

Question 42

Which post-structuralist theorist is associated with the concept of 'dissemination'?

Accepted Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Julia Kristeva

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 43

Post-structuralism places emphasis on:

Accepted Answer

The indeterminacy of meaning

Answer

Objectivity and rationality

Answer

Clarity and precision

Answer

Closure and finality

Question 44

A prevalent feature of post-structuralist literary criticism is:

Accepted Answer

Intertextual approach

Answer

Single interpretation

Answer

Objectivist stance

Answer

Author-centered focus

Question 45

Identify a potential limitation of structuralist literary analysis:

Accepted Answer

Overreliance on binary oppositions

Answer

Flexibility in textual interpretation

Answer

Attention to historical and cultural contexts

Answer

In-depth understanding of literary language

Question 46

Post-structuralist literary criticism has made significant contributions to the development of:

Accepted Answer

Gender studies and cultural theory

Answer

Biographical criticism

Answer

Marxist criticism

Answer

Formalist analysis

Question 47

A concept closely associated with post-structuralism is:

Accepted Answer

Power and ideology

Answer

Subjective meaning

Answer

Linear narrative

Answer

Canon formation

Question 48

Which of the following is **not** considered a central principle of structuralist literary theory?

Accepted Answer

The significance of authorial intent in determining a text's meaning

Answer

The focus on the objective and stable nature of literary meaning

Answer

The exploration of binary oppositions in shaping meaning

Answer

The importance of identifying the underlying structures and systems within a text

Question 49

According to Roland Barthes, the 'death of the author' refers to the idea that:

Accepted Answer

The meaning of a text is not exclusively determined by the author's intentions

Answer

Authors should no longer be considered in literary analysis

Answer

Authors have no control over how their work is interpreted

Question 50

Which technique is commonly employed by post-structuralists in their analysis of literary texts?

Accepted Answer

Decentering the subject and questioning its centrality in the interpretation of meaning

Answer

Applying biographical information to interpret literary works

Answer

Relying on traditional methods of close reading

Answer

Focusing solely on the formal elements of a text

Question 51

What is a key distinction between structuralism and post-structuralism in their approach to literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism emphasizes the objective and stable nature of meaning, while post-structuralism emphasizes its subjective and unstable nature

Answer

Structuralism focuses on the language of a text, while post-structuralism focuses on the social context

Question 52

Which of the following is a classic example of a binary opposition used in structuralist analysis?

Accepted Answer

Male/female

Answer

Tragedy/comedy

Answer

Romeo and Juliet

Answer

The sun/the moon

Question 53

How does post-structuralism challenge the traditional notion of a fixed and objective meaning in literary texts?

Accepted Answer

It argues that meaning is actively constructed and negotiated by readers based on their own unique experiences and interpretations

Answer

It suggests that all texts are ultimately meaningless and impossible to comprehend

Question 54

In what way has structuralism significantly influenced the study of literature?

Accepted Answer

It has shifted critical attention towards the formal elements of texts and the ways in which they generate meaning

Answer

It has made literary analysis more accessible to a broader audience

Answer

It has led to a decline in the appreciation of literature as an art form

Question 55

Which theme is frequently explored in post-structuralist literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

The fluidity and instability of identity

Answer

The pursuit of absolute and universal truths

Answer

The superiority of traditional literary forms

Answer

The importance of authorial intent in shaping literary meaning