Structuralism and Post-structuralism: Theory and Practice of Deconstruction Structuralism and post-structuralism are two major theoretical approaches in modern literary criticism. Post-structuralism developed out of structuralism, but it also questioned and challenged many of its basic assumptions. While structuralism believed that language and meaning follow stable systems, post-structuralism argued that language is unstable and meaning is always shifting. Understanding their differences helps us see how literary interpretation has evolved. Structuralism: Origin and Characteristics Structuralism developed mainly from linguistics, particularly from the work of Ferdinand de Saussure. Linguistics as a discipline had confidence in the possibility of discovering objective knowledge. Structuralists believed that by carefully observing language, collecting data, and applying logical analysis, it is possible to reach reliable conclusions about meaning and culture. Structuralism ...