Which of the following observations are true about Roland Barthes’ contributions to literary theory?
[A] He rejected the model for structural analysis of narratives
[B] He perceived “meaning” as an effect of various interconnections among linguistic codes
[C] He identified the various codes found in the process of structuration
[D] He played a significant role in the development of ‘semiology’
[E] He questioned the concept of literary criticism as an act of uncovering some hidden truth intended by the “author”
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is B, C, D and E only.

Let us analyze Roland Barthes’ contributions to literary theory and evaluate each statement step-by-step:

Statement [A] is incorrect: Roland Barthes did not reject the model for the structural analysis of narratives. On the contrary, he was one of its primary pioneers. In his influential 1966 essay, "Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narratives," he sought to establish a systematic, scientific method for analyzing how narratives function, drawing heavily on structural linguistics.

Statement [B] is correct: In his transition from structuralism to post-structuralism, particularly in works like S/Z (1970), Barthes viewed "meaning" not as a fixed, stable entity residing inside a text, but as an open-ended effect produced by the interconnections and interplay among various linguistic and cultural codes.

Statement [C] is correct: In S/Z, Barthes introduced the concept of "structuration" (the process through which a text is structured by the reader) and identified five distinct codes that assist in this process: the Hermeneutic (HER), Proairetic (ACT), Semic (SEM), Symbolic (SYM), and Referential (REF) codes.

Statement [D] is correct: Barthes played a monumental role in the development of "semiology" (the study of signs and symbols). In works such as Mythologies (1957) and Elements of Semiology (1964), he applied Ferdinand de Saussure's linguistic concepts to analyze cultural signs, fashion, advertisements, and popular myths, showing how everyday objects carry secondary ideological meanings.

Statement [E] is correct: In his famous 1967 essay, "The Death of the Author," Barthes explicitly challenged traditional literary criticism that treated the text as a channel for uncovering a single, hidden "truth" intended by the author. He argued that the authority of the author must be decoupled from the text to liberate the reader's role in creating meaning, famously concluding that "the birth of the reader must be at the cost of the death of the Author."

Therefore, statements B, C, D, and E are accurate representations of Barthes' contributions, while statement A is incorrect.