You are right that this is a dense passage that describes a rather arcane Humanities topic. When you encounter a passage like this--one that seems particularly dense or difficult to grasp, try to focus your attention on arriving at a basic understanding of each paragraph first.
This passage has three paragraphs. The first introduces, very broadly, certain claims that are central to the rest of the passage. Specifically, the paragraph speaks to "innovations in language" and argues that nothing is really ever completely new. This means that when new terms emerge, they typically carry the baggage of their old meanings. The paragraph ends by introducing a specific area where this phenomenon can be witnessed: "the language of the contemporary school of literary criticism."
The second paragraph furthers this specific example, explaining that contemporary lit crit used fancy words (signifier/signified) instead of basic terms (word/thing) to underline "the seriousness of the naming process and its claim on our attention." The paragraph also notes the double meaning inherent in the verb "to signify."
Finally, the bulk of the passage lies in the dense third paragraph, which again provides a specific example but delves deeper into an analysis of what those words (construction/deconstruction) signify in the realm of literature. This paragraph makes two key assertions.
First, the author of the passage asserts that the use of these terms (construction/deconstruction) implies a mechanical process, a taking apart of texts "to demonstrate underlying inadequacies, false assumptions, and inherent contradictions." (Lines 28-30, 36-39).
Second, the passage author asserts that the use of the word "deconstruction" marks a departure from literary criticism. Whereas "criticism" involves judgment based on skill or wisdom, deconstruction "merely suggests demolition" of what exists. A deconstructionist, therefore, "totally dismantle[s]" texts. (Lines 45-51, Lines 53-56).
Hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
BradGApril 26, 2019
Great summary below. Providing something like this for each passage may be a good idea, this way we can understand immediately if we understood the entire passage.
RaviApril 27, 2019
@BradG thanks for the suggestion! We're always working on building out more content. In the meantime, if you have more questions, let us know. We're here to help!
