Circular Structure in Literature & Literary Theory

Circular Structure: Definition as a Theoretical Term

Circular structure, as a theoretical term in literature, refers to a narrative or compositional technique where the story concludes by returning to its initial point, creating a closed and self-referential loop. This device challenges conventional linear storytelling, emphasizing thematic or symbolic significance in the repetition of narrative elements.

Circular structure serves to underscore cyclical patterns, eternal themes, or the perpetual nature of certain motifs within a literary work.

Circular Structure: Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Literal Meaning	Conceptual Meaning
– A narrative or plot structure that ends where it began.	– Represents a cyclical or repetitive pattern within the narrative.
– Circular progression without a linear conclusion.	– Implies a sense of continuity, eternal return, or perpetual recurrence.
– May involve a story returning to a specific moment or event.	– Reinforces themes of repetition, inevitability, or eternal cycles.

Circular Structure: Theorists, Works and Arguments

1. John Barth:
   • Works: Lost in the Funhouse
   • Argument: Barth, a postmodernist writer, employs circular structures to challenge traditional narrative expectations, inviting readers to reconsider the nature of storytelling and the role of the author.
2. Kurt Vonnegut:
   • Works: Slaughterhouse-Five
   • Argument: Vonnegut’s use of circular structure reflects his exploration of the non-linear experience of time, particularly in the context of war trauma, emphasizing the inevitability of certain events.
3. Italo Calvino:
   • Works: If on a winter’s night a traveler
   • Argument: Calvino employs circular structures to highlight the interconnectedness of stories, questioning the boundaries between fiction and reality and engaging readers in a playful, self-aware narrative.
4. Toni Morrison:
   • Works: Beloved
   • Argument: Morrison’s circular narrative in Beloved serves to confront the haunting legacy of slavery, emphasizing the cyclical nature of trauma and the ongoing impact of historical events on individual lives.
5. Hermann Hesse:
   • Works: Siddhartha
   • Argument: Hesse utilizes circular structure to convey the cyclical nature of spiritual journeys and the continuous quest for self-discovery, reflecting Eastern philosophical influences.
6. Jorge Luis Borges:
   • Works: The Garden of Forking Paths
   • Argument: Borges often employs circular and labyrinthine structures to explore complex philosophical concepts, such as infinite possibilities and the nature of reality.
7. David Mitchell:
   • Works: Cloud Atlas
   • Argument: Mitchell weaves a complex narrative with multiple interconnected stories, utilizing a circular structure to underscore the interdependence of characters and events across time.

These theorists and authors contribute to the understanding of circular structure in literature, each employing it as a narrative device to convey unique thematic and philosophical perspectives.

Circular Structure: Key Features

Key Features	Explanation	Examples
Return to Starting Point	Narrative concludes by revisiting the initial scene or event, creating a sense of closure.	– Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Cyclical Progression	Storytelling lacks a linear progression, emphasizing repetition and continuity.	– If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino
Symbolic Repetition	Repetition of symbols, themes, or motifs, conveying deeper meanings through recurrence.	– Beloved by Toni Morrison
Interconnected Stories	Multiple stories or timelines interweave, forming an interconnected narrative structure.	– Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Reflects Philosophical Themes	Often used to explore philosophical concepts like time, fate, or the cyclical nature of existence.	– Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Challenges Linear Expectations	Deviates from traditional linear storytelling, challenging reader expectations.	– The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges

Circular structure in these examples serves various purposes, from conveying the complexities of time and existence to exploring interconnected themes through recurring narrative elements.

Circular Structure: Relevance in Literary Theory

1. Structuralism:
   • Circular structure aligns with structuralist principles by emphasizing the interrelated nature of narrative elements, contributing to the overall coherence of the literary work.
2. Poststructuralism:
   • Challenges fixed meanings and linear interpretations, aligning with poststructuralist ideas of multiple perspectives and fluid meanings within a text.
3. Deconstruction:
   • Circular structure invites deconstructive analysis by disrupting traditional narrative expectations and highlighting the instability of fixed meanings.
4. Feminist Literary Criticism:
   • Can be relevant in exploring the cyclical nature of gender roles, power dynamics, and societal expectations within a narrative.
5. Marxist Literary Theory:
   • Circular structure may be examined in terms of class struggles and the perpetuation of societal cycles, aligning with Marxist critiques of systemic issues.
6. Psychoanalytic Criticism:
   • Relevant for exploring psychological themes, such as repetition compulsion, memory, and the cyclical nature of personal development.
7. Narrative Theory:
   • It contributes to the exploration of narrative patterns, emphasizing how storytelling can create loops of meaning and significance.
8. Cultural Studies:
   • Examines how structure may reflect and perpetuate cultural norms, ideologies, and recurring societal patterns within a literary context.
9. New Historicism:
   • Relevant for exploring how circular structure reflects historical cycles, influences, and the repetition of certain themes across different time periods.
10. Reader-Response Theory:
    • Invites exploration of how readers engage with circular narratives, emphasizing the subjective nature of meaning-making and interpretation.

Circular Structure: Application in Critiques

Literary Work	Author	Application of Circular Structure	Critique Focus
Slaughterhouse-Five	Kurt Vonnegut	Vonnegut’s circular structure challenges conventional war narratives, emphasizing trauma’s cyclical nature.	Critique of linear war storytelling; Examination of the impact of cyclical narrative on trauma.
If on a winter’s night a traveler	Italo Calvino	Calvino’s circular narrative disrupts reader expectations, prompting reflection on the act of reading.	Analysis of reader engagement; Exploration of the novel’s metafictional commentary.
Beloved	Toni Morrison	Morrison’s circular structure explores the cyclical impact of slavery, contributing to thematic depth.	Examination of thematic richness; Analysis of the emotional resonance created by circularity.
Cloud Atlas	David Mitchell	Mitchell’s circular narratives interweave, enhancing interconnected themes and structural complexity.	Critique of structural complexity; Evaluation of reader engagement with interconnected narratives.

This revised table succinctly highlights the application in each work, providing a focus for critique within the broader context of literary analysis.

Circular Structure: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Recurrence	Repeated events, themes, or motifs in a circular structure.
Closure	Narrative resolution achieved by returning to the initial point.
Eternal Return	Philosophical concept of events perpetually recurring.
Interconnectedness	State of being connected, often emphasized in circular narratives.
Cyclical Time	Representation of time as circular rather than linear.
Symbolic Repetition	Intentional repetition of symbols for thematic depth.
Nonlinear Narrative	Narrative deviating from linear progression.
Closure and Revelation	Circular structure providing closure and revealing new insights.
Inevitability	Sense that certain events or outcomes are unavoidable.
Metafiction	Self-awareness of a work as fiction, relevant in narratives with circular structures.

Circular Structure: Suggested Readings

1. Borges, Jorge Luis. The Garden of Forking Paths. Penguin, 1941.
2. Calvino, Italo. If on a winter’s night a traveler. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979.
3. Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. New Directions, 1922.
4. Mitchell, David. Cloud Atlas. Random House, 2004.
5. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Knopf, 1987.
6. Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five. Dell Publishing, 1969.
7. Culler, Jonathan. Structuralist Poetics: Structuralism, Linguistics, and the Study of Literature. Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1975.
8. Genette, Gérard. Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Cornell University Press, 1983.
9. Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics. Routledge, 2002.

More on Theoretical Terms below:

• Narcissism in Literature & Literary Theory
• Narrative Ambiguity in Literature & Literary Theory
• Ontological Inquiry in Literature & Theory
• Narrative Arc in Literature & Literary Theory
• Character Arc in Literature & Literary Theory