When you want to read a book, which is very complicated and full of information about literature you can read Roland Barthes book S\Z. Here is a short summary:
S/Z, published in 1970, is Roland Barthes's structuralist analysis of Sarrasine, the short story by Honoré de Balzac. Barthes methodically moves through the text of the story, denoting where and how different codes of meaning function. Barthes's study has had a major impact on literary criticism, and is historically located at the crossroads of structuralism and post-structuralism. Barthes analysis is influenced by the structuralist linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure; both Barthes and de Saussure aim to explore and demystify the link between a sign and its meaning. Barthes seeks to establish the overall system out of which all individual narratives are created, using specific 'codes' that thematically, semiotically, and otherwise make a literary text 'work'. By pointing out how these codes function subconsciously in the mind of the reader, Barthes flags the way in which the reader is an active producer of the text, rather than a passive consumer.
I read this book a long time ago in my "Introduction to Literary Theory" class with Professor Johnathan Culler. Before going into the structuralist analysis, I actually enjoyed "Sarrasine" very much. It was sad. And recalling it now, I am reminded of Clifford Gertz's article about differences in cultural attitudes towards hermaphrodites and the culture of common sense. A brief digression -this field is, I think, referred to often as Hermeneutics, aptly named for the Greek trickster god Hermes. The first "reading" or chase for truth is said to stem from Apollo hunting down Hermes after he'd eaten Apollo's ENTIRE HERD of cattle and how Apollow read through all of Hermes' tricks to misdirect any one who came looking for him. Similarly, we, the reader must actively read ("readerly")through these same tricks, but in a writerly context to unlock meaning. I think... this was a long time ago. But yes. I remember the codes, the sign, the signifier, and the signified. Professor Culler was very good at helping me when I got lost. I really appreciated his candor and help. It is a good work and less confusing than most other works in the field of Theory.
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