Theory and Meaning. How Literary Theory Can Influence the Perception of a Text Anonymous College

A same story can be perceived differently depending on who reads it. Indeed, depending on our cultural background and the historical period in which we live a story can take on different meanings. Similarly, our perception of a story may change over the years, since each time we read it we have a different perspective and knowledge of the world. However, the interpretation of a story may also vary according to the literary theory one uses to analyze the text. Indeed, thanks to literary theory we can analyze the connection that occurs between writer and text as well as the hidden references to class, gender, and race. In this paper, I will analyze the Grimm’s story “Hansel and Gretel” from different points of view to highlight how different theoretical approach can change our perception of the story.

In order to analyze Hansel and Gretel from a structuralist point of view one needs to consider the story in relation to its literary genre, the folktales, and has to underline systematic patterns of structure. Once these patterns have been identified, it is necessary to analyze them and find in what they differ from the main structure of fairytales. In particular, it is essential to use Propp’s thirty-one functions to outline which...