Semiotic discourse studies propose a methodic and coherent way of analyzing literary texts. In this approach the meaning of the text is analysed is conceived as having a superficial structure which is composed by narrativ and figurativ/ thematic components and a deep structure which contains universal semantic categories . Thus, the semiotic analysis is based on two levels. Our study is an illustration of the French semiotics model of reading a novel. We studied Zola's Germinal in order to offer a general view in litterary terms, and to analyse the structure of the novel. Thus, after general observations on the genesis and the meaning of the novel, our first step concerns with the narrativ and figurativ aspects of the text; the second step is the way of analysing the signification as a process. The aim of this work is to offer a model of reading novel as a litterary exercice in the classroom.