
French Literary Theory
French literary theory is a field that explores how texts work and what they reveal about human experience, language, and society. It investigates meaning, interpretation, and the nature of literature through various perspectives, such as structuralism, post-structuralism, and psychoanalysis. Think of it as examining books not just for their stories but for how they communicate ideas, reflect cultural norms, and challenge perceptions. French theorists like Ferdinand de Saussure, Jacques Derrida, and Roland Barthes have shaped how we analyze literature's deeper significance and its role within broader social and philosophical contexts.