The correct answer is 2 (A, D, and E) because these statements align with the fundamental tenets of Structuralism, as outlined below:
Explanation:
A. Structuralism is concerned with signs and signification.
True: Structuralism analyzes structures of meaning, particularly how signs (words, symbols) create meaning within systems. It is grounded in semiotics, a study of signs initiated by Ferdinand de Saussure.
B. A structuralist theory considers only verbal conventions and codes.
False: Structuralism considers a broader range of systems beyond verbal conventions, such as myths, rituals, and other cultural phenomena. It is not limited to language but looks at structures underlying various forms of communication and meaning-making.
C. Structuralism began in the works of Jacques Derrida that influenced the 20th-century literary criticism.
False: Structuralism began with Ferdinand de Saussure and other early theorists like Claude Lévi-Strauss. Jacques Derrida, on the other hand, is associated with Poststructuralism, which critiques and builds upon Structuralist ideas.
D. Structuralism challenges the long-standing belief that literature reflects a given reality.
True: Structuralists argue that literature (and language in general) does not directly reflect reality but instead creates meaning through underlying systems and conventions. Reality is mediated by language.
E. All signs are arbitrary but without them we cannot comprehend reality.
True: A key Structuralist idea is that the relationship between a signifier (the form of a sign) and a signified (its meaning) is arbitrary. Yet, these signs are essential for understanding and constructing reality.
Why is 2 (A, D, and E) correct?
A reflects the focus on signs and their structures.
D addresses how Structuralism questions the mimetic theory of literature (the idea that it reflects reality).
E underscores the arbitrariness of signs and their role in meaning-making.
Why are the other options incorrect?
1 (A, C, and E) includes C, which incorrectly attributes Structuralism's origin to Derrida.
3 (A, B, and C) includes B and C, both of which are incorrect.
4 (A, B, and E) includes B, which is incorrect.
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