Question

"the modern sense of literary theory, dates approximately to the 1950s."

Answer 1

The modern sense of literary theory dates from the 1950s, marked by the emergence of structuralism. Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure's work was influential in this shift. The focus turned from 'what' a text means to 'how' it produces meaning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The modern sense of literary theory emerged around the 1950s with the structuralist movement. This saw a shift in analyzing literature not only for its artistic or historical value but considering it as a complex system of signs. Works of literature began to be studied for their underlying structure and sign systems, drawing from fields like linguistics and anthropology.

One of the key figures in this movement was Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, whose work on sign systems was influential in developing literary theory. In essence, it became less about 'what' a text means and more about 'how' it produces meaning. This era also marks the beginning of notable sub-disciplines of literary theory, such as feminist theory, postcolonial theory, and queer theory.

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