Theoretical Background

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

This chapter consists of the relevant theories which are needed in order to support the analysis in chapter three. The theory which the writer uses is the theory of Structuralism by Tzvetan Todorov. This theory includes the elements of structuralism. This will be used to analyze further such as the character, forms, causes and effects in the story. In addition, the theories of family will be explained by definition of family, types of family structure, characteristics of family, and classification of parenting styles. Concepts on physical abuse will be also discussed.

2.1 History of Structuralism

Structuralism is an intellectual movement which began in France in the

1950s. It is fust seen in the work of the anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss and the literary critic Roland Barthes. Structuralism was introduced in the 1970s in Britain and became a widespread throughout the 1980s. (Barry, 1995, p. 41)

The essence of structuralism is the belief that things cannot be understood in isolation. The things have to be seen in the context of the larger structures they are part of. The structures are those imposed by human way of perceiving the world and organizing experience. It follows from this that meaning or significance is always outside. Meanings are attributed to the things by human mind, not contained within them. (Barry, 1995, p. 41)

Structuralism activities are mainly to analyze prose narrative and connect it with the text to larger containing structure, to interpret literature and connect it with

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the structure of language and to apply the concept of systematic patterning and structuring