Introduction to Theory of Literature - Linguistics and Literature

Explore the intricate connections between linguistics and literature in this 50-minute lecture from Yale University's "Introduction to Theory of Literature" course. Delve into Roman Jakobson's work, examining the concepts of synchrony and diachrony while investigating the relationships among formalism, semiotics, and linguistics. Analyze Claude Levi-Strauss's structural interpretation of the Oedipus myth and dissect the sentence "It is raining" from six different perspectives to understand Jakobson's poetic functions. Gain insights into the use of diagrams in literary linguistic theory and explore topics such as the emergence of structuralism, the poetic function, and metalanguage. This comprehensive lecture, recorded in Spring 2009, offers a deep dive into the theoretical foundations of literature and linguistics.