CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
B.1 Theoretical Framework
B.1.1 Structuralism Theory
A movement of thought in the humanities, widespread in anthropology, linguistics, and literary theory, and influential in the 1950’s and ‘60s. Based primarily on the linguistic theories of Ferdinand de Saussure, structuralism considered language as a system of signs and signification, the elements of which are understandable only in relation to each other and to the system.
In literary theory, structuralism theory relates literary texts to a larger structure, which may be a particular genre, a range of intertextuality connections, a model of a universal narrative structure, or a system of recurrent pattern or motifs. Structuralism theory argues that there must be a structure in every text, which explain why it is easier for experienced readers than for non-experienced readers to interpret a text. Hence, evertything that is written seems to be governed by specific rules, or a “grammar of literature”, that one learns in educational institutions and that are to be unmasked.
and could thus be used to develop general conclusion about both individual works and the system from which they emerged.
B.1.1.1 Structural Elements
In order to find the relation between the story, symbols and what the author wants to convey to the readers; the analysis of structural elements play an important role in the development of the analysis. In this research, the researcher only focuses on two aspects of the structural elements of a literary works. The two aspects, which are Characterization and Setting, would be analyzed in order to find the relation between the content of the story with the interpretation of the symbols and what the author wants to convey to readers.
B.1.1.1.1 Characterization
The steps in explaining the details about characterization of characters in a story are described as follows:
1. The initial stage is where the author introduces the major character with noticeable emergence.
2. Introduction of the major character involved the explanation about his/her behavior.
3. Further progressing through the story, comes the observation of the thought-process of the major character.
4. The next stage involves the character expressing his opinions and ideas and getting into conversations with the other minor characters.
5. The final part shows how others characters in the story respond to the major character’s personality.
B.1.1.3 Setting
As one of the important elements in a story, the setting can provide a background for the narrative. As stated by Roberts (1977) in the book Writing Themes about Literature:
Actually, the setting is not just the name of a place, but the setting refers to the natural and artificial scenery in the characters, living in literature. Thus, the setting can be the time, place, or weather (Roberts, 1977:75)
The setting in a story refers to the physical location and even historical time period in which the action of the piece takes place. Setting can refer to a specific city, state, or country. It can also refer to a specific building, such as a house, or a specific area, such as a park. Setting also helps to strengthen the impression of the readers toward the story. Besides, in order to understand a literary work thoroughly, it is important to know about the background of time and place of the story.
B.1.2 Definition of Symbol
It refers to the outward sign of something. Therefore, the meaning of symbol is something which stands for something else.
In addition, another definition of symbol taken from britannica.com, an Online Encyclopaedia:
“A symbol, a communication element intended to simply represent or stand for a complex of person, object, group, or idea. Symbols may be presented graphically, as in the cross for Christianity and the red cross or crescent for the life-preserving agencies of Christian and Islamic countries representationally, as in the human figures Marianne, John Bull, and Uncle Sam standing for France, England, and the United States, respectively; they may involve letters, as in K for the chemical element potassium; or they may be assigned arbitrarily, as in the mathematical symbol ∞ for infinity or the symbol $ for dollar.”
From two definitions above, symbol refers to anything that represents another thing. A symbol is something which stands or means something else. The thing used as a symbol suggests a larger and deeper meaning than itself. Anything can be used as a symbol; such as an object, a person, a place, and even an action or an event.
According to Abrams (1999), a symbol is anything which signifies something; which in this sense all words are symbols. In discussing literature, however, the term "symbol" is applied to a word or phrase that signifies an object or event which in its turn signifies something, or has a range of reference, beyond itself (Abrams, 1999:311).
adds more beauty to it. It also may be used in different ways by different authors for different purposes; such as to support the characterization, support the theme, to develop the plot, to show the conflict and also to state what the author wants to convey to the readers.
However, the context actually cannot be separated with the symbols, since it has to control the possible meaning of the symbols. For example is color, have no fixed meaning but depends on the context. The color red may symbolize bravery, but it may also means blood or even death. In other words, a symbol is very flexible; it may have any different expressions or meanings for different persons.
B.1.3 Theory of Symbol in Literature
Holman and Harmon (1968) stated that “symbol is an image that evokes an objective, concrete reality and suggests another level of meaning. It is a trope that combines a literal and sensuous quality with an abstract or suggestive aspect “(Holman, 1968:44).
From the statements above can be concluded that symbol, in literature, is not a mere sign but it contain message that must be interpreted and analyzed in order to discover the deeper meaning behind it. It is often meant to reveal something to the readers, rather than the pure fact. Different things could be symbolic, yet simple things can have widely symbolic meanings. Symbol is commonly used in literature to change or deepen meanings to the mind of the readers. It is evoke the readers to keep thinking, making connections, making conclusions and succeed in developing a deeper understanding/new perspective toward the literary works.
The presence of the symbols in the literary works is inevitable. If symbols are present whether through emphasis, repetition, implications, or recurring patterns, it means that the author wants to convey something in term of another. Such a hint should not be neglected and the readers should be sensitive to the symbolic implications in order to get the actual understanding of the content of the literary works.
concept, for example: the general association of a peacock with pride; an eagle with heroic endeavor; or the rising sun with birth and the setting sun with death, or climbing with effort or progress and descent with surrender or failure. Some poets, however, repeatedly use symbols whose significance they largely generate themselves, and these pose a more difficult interpretation and deeper analyzing. (Abrams, 1999:311).
In line with Abrams, Reaske (1974) stated that there are two types of symbols: public symbol and private symbol. Public symbol is a symbol that through repeated use has the same connotations whenever they occur. While private symbols are products of particular poet’s imagination and are fairly mysterious. If a poet has a private symbol, it often remains in private use until someone decides that the symbols has some particular meaning, which become clear when one has observed carefully how the symbol function in every poem in which it is observed (Reaske, 1974:109).
In addition, the statement also supported by Guth (1997) who stated that:
“… some poets develop a symbolic language of their own that may at first seems private or obscure. However, it gradually becomes meaningful as the readers learn more about the poet or read several poems by the same poet. As the readers learn the poet’s symbolic language, the reader gradually feel less like strangers in the poet’s world of meaning”(Guth, 1997:589).
often that everybody is familiar with them. The cross, for example, symbolizes Christianity; the dove is usually related to peace, and so on. This symbol also includes what is called natural symbol which is including all man’s physical environment except what he has created himself. The rising sun, for instance, often related to birth; while the setting sun symbolizes death. The other kind of symbol is known as “unconventional” or “private” symbol. An author may use symbols privately and personally; so it needs a deeper understanding and analysis for the readers to get the meaning of the symbol. The quality which differentiates the private symbol from the public ones is the originality of the private symbol; because unlike the public symbol, they originate from the imagination and personal experience of the author.
Apart from the two forms of symbol mentioned before, Guth further adds about what is called as “the central symbol”. He explains that a central symbol is a symbol that becomes the focal point of a story. A central symbol functions to focus the readers’ attention since it provides a tangible object for the readers’ emotion. Another function of a central symbol is that it becomes the center/focus for meanings and associations. (Guth, 1997:192-193).
their actions, the author lends them some special significance in order to support the idea. Furthermore, Kennedy gives an addition that the readers should be careful with words, phrases, or sentences which are mentioned repeatedly, because they might suggest symbols (Kennedy, 1983:147).
Thus, the symbols are a valuable discovery in the literary work since the objects within the literary work usually have symbolic meaning/meanings behind them. The symbols are not the things that the author invented to confuse the readers. They are not only some strange object randomly put in the story without any significance, but the symbols in the literary work play an important part for the readers to create a deeper understanding toward the literary works. And since literature is a mirror reflection of the real life, understanding about this also becomes an important thing to be experienced by the readers.
The theories about the study of symbol that have been mention above not only can be applied when analyzing symbols in a poem but they can also be applied in analyzing symbols or symbolical language in any other genre of literature such as short story, novel or a play, since symbols are also exist on those other types of literary genre.
B.2 Review of Related Researchers
The presence of TLP makes literary researchers worldwide competing to provide an assessment on this phenomenal story. Jessica Anelli (2010) in her article entitled Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: The Real Little Prince stated that “The Little Prince is filled with symbolic characters and motifs that at the time written,
allowed Saint-Exupéry to make remarks about life and his personal philosophies. As the Little Prince comes in contact with such characters as the fox, the snake, and the rose, Saint-Exupéry writes out his themes.”(Anelli, 2010). This article gives a review that TLP is indeed a story full of symbolic meaning and it reflects the author’s personal philosophies.
In addition, Maria Konnikova (2012) in her article entitled The Big Lesson of a Little Prince: (Re)capture the Creativity of Childhood said that:
“… Saint-Exupéry’s larger point about creativity and thought is difficult to overstate: as we age, how we see the world changes. It is the rare person who is able to hold on to the sense of wonderment, of presence, of sheer enjoyment of life and its possibilities that is so apparent in our younger selves. As we age, we gain experience. We become better able to exercise self-control. We become more in command of our faculties, our thoughts, our desires. But somehow, we lose sight of the effortless ability to take in the world in full. The very experience that helps us become successful threatens to limit our imagination and our sense of the possible”(Konnikova, 2012).
A journal by Herman T. Salton entitled The Little Prince, Race and the Five Planets of Racism (2013) focusing his research in analyzing about the relationship
between the characters in TLP and racial prejudice. RiskhanaWidhiyaSihwandhari in her thesis Alienation and Self-Discovery in The Little Prince, Stuart Little and Alice in Wonderland (2014) focusing her study in analyzing the psychological
aspect of the main characters from three most famous children’s book (including TLP).
Related with the theory used to analyze TLP novella, the previous research which is relevant to the study of symbol is the one entitled “Symbols as a means of Delivering the Theme in Nabokov’s Lolita” by Rosemary Kesauly and
Harris Hermansyah (2004). This article point out about the symbols in the novel plays an important role in reflecting the theme. The interrelation of the symbols with the other intrinsic elements of the novel such as the main characters and the setting help to convey the theme of the novel.
The other previous research which is relevant to the study of symbol is an article from the English Language and Literature Studies Online Journal entitled “The Role of Symbol in Delivering the Theme of Conflict between Reality and Illusion in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire” by A. M. Masoud and
symbolism in analyzing the characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet
Letter.
