Cullers Chapter 4 Language Meaning Interpretation Meaning in

Culler’s Chapter 4: Language, Meaning, Interpretation

Meaning in Literature Meaning of a text. n Meaning of a word. n Meaning of an utterance: Who says it? Under what conditions? How does it perform? n Obviously, these are all interrelated. See p. 53 n

Meaning is based on Difference “We” is opposed to “I”. n “Dance” is opposed to “standing still”. n “Suppose” is opposed to “know”. n

Saussure’s Theory of Language n n Language is a system of differences. Language is a system of signs and the key fact is that the sign is arbitrary. n n n Relations between signifier and signified are based on conventions, not natural resemblences. (Different languages use different words to indicate the same object. ) The meaning of a word is composed of the combination of (form) signifier and (meaning) signified. (Meaning changes when the speaker and listener changes. ) Language is a system of concepts. It is a way of thinking.

Language and Thought One theory says language offers ways to express pre-existing thought. n Another theory says that language determines what we can think and say. n Which do you think? n See p. 56 n

Ways to study literature. Linguistics: reconstructs the system or grammar of a language. (Not interested in meaning, but in how structures create meaning. ) n Poetics: starts with meaning and asks how it is achieved. n Hermeneutics: starts with texts and asks what they mean. n

Poetics n Poetics asks questions like: Why is one ending more successful than another? n Why does one combination of images make sense? n What conventions do readers use to interpret a work? n

Hermeneutics n Hermeneutics asks questions like: What does this line mean? n What does this poem tell us about the human condition? n What contexts establish this kind of meaning? n Why does it mean what it means to a particular reader? n

Readers and Meaning Reader Response theory – To interpret a work is to tell the story of reading. n Horizon of expectations embedded in the reader. What factors influence why you “read” or interpret the way you do. n

Interpretation Playing the “about” game. So, what is this work really about? n If you play the game right, then your answer must be speculative, it can’t be obvious. n See p. 61. n

Your beliefs determine what you’ll think the text is “about. ” n n n If you’re a Marxist, you’ll look for class struggle. If you’re a psychoanalyst, you’ll look for Oedipal conflicts. If you’re a feminist, you’ll look for asymmetry in gender relationships. If you’re a post-colonialist, you’ll look for evidence of imperialist domination. You can consciously choose a position from which to evaluate a text.

Interpretation(s) n n n Do we need to determine that there are “right” and “wrong” interpretations? No, because such arguments are never settled. A meaning can always change. Yes, because the “events” of the text must support any particular hypothesis. You can’t make a work mean just anything. You have to convince others of the pertinence of your reading.

Meaning, Intention, Context n What determines Meaning? n n n Intention (of author) Text Context Reader These are the same four issues we talked about when we discussed fiction: Privileging the reader, text, author, or world.

Author Intentional Fallacy – p. 62 n Meaning, these days isn’t tied to inner intention, but to personal or historical circumstances. What sort of act was author performing, given the situation of the moment. n Your Alvarez paper asked this kind of question about meaning. n

Readers If you privilege the reader, does that mean that “anything goes? ” n No, because you still have to persuade others that it is pertinent. n Meaning is both what we understand what in the text we try to understand. n

Context n More than anything these days, meaning is determined by context. See p. 63

Journals for Harjo n What do you pay attention to when you’re interpreting these texts? Author’s intentions? n Reader’s response? n Context? n Text? n n Is one more important than the others? Why?

More Harjo Woman Hanging, 3079 n Vision, 3083 n Anchorage, 3084 n Deer Dancer, 3085 n