1. Structuralism • What is it? • A literary theory that says that you can analyze a text and through it come to understand the larger structure such as the culture, the literary genre, etc.

2. Structuralists say that everything exists as a part of a larger whole. Nothing can truly exist on its own.

3. The French terms “langue” and “parole” are used in discussion of this theory. • “Langue”, refers to the system or structure, the whole. • “Parole”, refers to the individual utterance or example within the langue. • Therefore, a simple utterance, a play, a dance, a ceremony, etc., can be better understood once one understands the langue under which that parole is acting.

4. What does this mean for us? • What are examples in our culture of “paroles” that help us understand the greater “langue” of our modern American culture? • Film industry • Schedules, how we spend our time • What we spend our money on • Advertisements

5. Connection • Turn to your neighbor; using the general theme of “Medieval Theatre” together decide on a langue of that time period. • Then choose 2-3 paroles within that langue. • Share your results with another partnership.

6. So what? • Why would a study or basic understanding of Stucturalism be of use in this unit - how can we use it to better understand Spanish Golden Age theatre?