Return to Basics...
When we read anything, and question anything, we return to the roots of the ideology of the work. Rexamniation of any text will inevitably lead to the reworking of the premises and assumptions of the work. Thus the author is where we return to to find the origins of his work for where did the work exist but in the mind of the author right? So if Barthes didn't think anything, he wouldn't have written, then you poor thing would have to do this assignment right? So return to basics. I know you would like to return to Barthes' basics and ended it there...