Formalism can evoke emotions and provoke reactions.
He also
developed the "poetic function," which emphasizes the
use of language to create a specific experience for the
is a literary theory that focuses on the formal elements of reader.
a text—such as structure, style, language, and literary
devices—rather than its content, historical context, or Rene Wellek and Austin Warren: Co-authors of Theory of
author's biography. It suggests that the meaning of a Literature, they discussed formalist principles while also
literary work arises from its form and how its elements considering the roles of context and history in literary
interact to create an aesthetic experience. analysis.
Historical Context Key Works
Origins: Formalism emerged in the early 20th century, "The Well Wrought Urn" by Cleanth Brooks: A seminal text
particularly in response to the rise of naturalism and realism that explores the structure and intricacies of poetry, arguing
in literature. Critics sought a method of analysis that was for the unity of form and content.
more rigorous and scientific.
"Principles of Literary Criticism" by I.A. Richards: A
Rise in the 1920s: The movement gained prominence during foundational work that outlines his theories on interpretation
the 1920s, particularly in the United States and Europe, as and the role of emotion in literature.
critics and theorists began to prioritize the study of texts
themselves over external factors. "Theory of Literature" by Rene Wellek and Austin Warren: A
comprehensive overview of literary theory that incorporates
Key Concepts formalist principles while addressing broader contexts.
Close Reading: This method involves a detailed and Critiques
careful analysis of the text, focusing on language, imagery,
sound, and structure. It aims to uncover deeper meanings Neglect of Context: Critics argue that formalism overlooks
by examining how the form contributes to the content. important contextual factors such as social, historical, and
cultural influences on literature.
Literary Devices: Formalists analyze various literary
techniques, such as: Reduced Scope: Some suggest that focusing solely on
form can lead to a superficial understanding of texts,
Metaphor: The use of one thing to represent another, ignoring deeper themes and messages.
enhancing meaning through comparison.
Aestheticism: Critics also point out that formalism can
Symbolism: Objects or characters that carry deeper drift into an overly aesthetic approach that prioritizes
meanings beyond their literal sense. beauty over meaning or moral engagement.
Rhyme and Meter: The sound patterns and rhythms in Additional Concepts in Formalism
poetry that create musicality and enhance the reading
experience. 1. New Criticism
Aesthetic Experience: The emphasis on how a work of art Overview: While closely related to Formalism, New
evokes feelings and perceptions, viewing literature as a Criticism is primarily an American adaptation that
medium for aesthetic pleasure rather than a vehicle for emerged in the mid-20th century. It advocates for a close
moral or political messages. reading of texts, emphasizing the text itself as an
independent entity.
Defamiliarization: This concept, borrowed from Russian
Formalism, suggests that art should make the familiar Key Features:
strange, prompting readers to see the world differently. By
disrupting habitual perceptions, literature forces readers Unity of Form and Content: New Critics argue that form
to engage more deeply with the text. and meaning are inseparable; the structure of a poem or
story contributes significantly to its overall meaning.
NOTABLE THINKERS
Ambiguity and Paradox: They celebrate the complexities
Cleanth Brooks: A central figure in New Criticism, Brooks and contradictions within texts, suggesting that ambiguity
championed the idea of "close reading." He emphasized enriches literature.
the importance of paradox and ambiguity in poetry and
argued that the text should be considered a self-sufficient 2. Structuralism
entity.
Overview: Structuralism builds on Formalist ideas,
I.A. Richards: An influential critic who introduced the focusing on the underlying structures that govern all forms
concept of "emotive language," focusing on how words of communication, including literature. It seeks to identify
the universal codes and conventions that shape narratives.
Key Features: Russian Formalism
Binary Oppositions: Structuralists analyze texts through Definition
the lens of oppositions (e.g., good vs. evil, life vs. death)
that create meaning. Is a specific branch of literary formalism that developed in
Russia in the early 20th century. It sought to analyze
Narrative Structures: They explore how plots are literature as an autonomous system of signs, emphasizing
constructed through specific frameworks, often applying the formal characteristics of texts and their artistic
models like Vladimir Propp’s narrative functions in techniques.
folktales.
Historical Context
3. Intertextuality Origins: Russian Formalism emerged in the wake of the
Russian Revolution (1917) and during a time of significant
Overview: While not exclusive to Formalism, cultural and artistic upheaval. The need for a new
intertextuality is a critical concept that emphasizes how approach to literature that broke from traditional
interpretations prompted the development of this
texts reference and influence one another. This concept movement.
highlights that no text exists in isolation.
Key Groups: The movement included various groups, such
Key Features: as the OPOYAZ (Society for the Study of Poetic Language)
and the Moscow Linguistic Circle, which aimed to establish
a scientific methodology for the study of literature.
Literary Echoes: Formalists examine how authors use
allusions, quotations, and stylistic features from other Key Concepts
texts to create meaning.
Defamiliarization (Ostranenie): Introduced by Victor
Reader Engagement: Intertextuality encourages readers Shklovsky, this concept refers to the technique of
to draw connections between texts, enriching their presenting familiar objects or experiences in an unfamiliar
understanding and interpretation. way. By doing so, it encourages readers to engage actively
with the text and reconsider their perceptions.
4. Poetic Function
Literary Language: Russian Formalists sought to
Overview: Coined by Roman Jakobson, the poetic function differentiate literary language from everyday language.
refers to the aspect of language that focuses on its They argued that literature possesses its own distinct set
aesthetic quality. This function emphasizes how the of rules and functions that set it apart from non-literary
arrangement of words contributes to the meaning of a text. communication.
Key Features: The Function of Devices: Formalists analyzed specific
literary devices, exploring their roles in creating meaning.
Emphasis on Form: The poetic function elevates the They believed that every element of a text serves a
importance of form, sound, and rhythm in literature, purpose and contributes to its overall effect.
showcasing how these elements impact emotional and
intellectual responses. Plot and Narration: They emphasized the importance of
narrative structure, studying how plots are constructed
Language as Art: This concept posits that literary and how different narrative techniques shape reader
language functions differently from everyday language, experiences.
prioritizing beauty and complexity over straightforward
communication. The "Literary Device": Russian Formalists categorized
devices such as rhythm, rhyme, and metaphor as central to
5. Literature as a Self-Contained System the function of literature, arguing that these elements are
crucial for understanding how literature communicates
Overview: Formalists argue that literature should be
meaning.
studied as a distinct system of signs and conventions,
separate from historical or social contexts. This approach Notable Thinkers
emphasizes the internal mechanics of texts.
Victor Shklovsky: A leading figure in Russian Formalism,
Key Features: Shklovsky’s essay "Art as Technique" articulates the
concept of defamiliarization and emphasizes the
Autonomy of Literature: Formalists maintain that
importance of technique in art. He argued that the purpose
literature's value lies in its formal elements, which create
of art is to disrupt habitual ways of seeing.
unique aesthetic experiences.
Roman Jakobson: A key theorist who contributed to the
Focus on Techniques: They analyze specific literary
understanding of the linguistic aspects of literature. He
techniques—such as imagery, syntax, and meter—to
introduced the "poetic function" of language, which
understand how they contribute to a text's meaning.
focuses on how the structure and sound of language create
meaning and aesthetic effects. 2. Fictionality
Boris Eikhenbaum: He explored the relationship between Overview: This concept refers to the nature of literature as
literature and its historical context while maintaining a a construct separate from reality. Russian Formalists
formalist approach. Eikhenbaum’s work focused on how emphasized the distinction between fictional worlds and
literary forms evolve and how they reflect social the real world.
conditions.
Key Features:
Key Works
Literary Worlds: They argued that literary texts create
"Art as Technique" by Victor Shklovsky: This their own rules and realities that must be understood on
foundational essay introduces defamiliarization and
outlines the techniques used by writers to enhance the their own terms.
reader's experience.
Reader’s Suspension of Disbelief: Readers are invited to
"On the Functional Analysis of Literature" by Roman
Jakobson: This work examines how different functions of engage with the fictional world, suspending their disbelief
language contribute to the meaning and experience of to fully experience the narrative.
literature.
3. Motif vs. Theme
"How Gogol’s Overcoat Was Made" by Boris
Eikhenbaum: A study of the relationship between form Overview: Russian Formalists differentiated between
and meaning in Gogol’s works, demonstrating how
narrative structure affects interpretation. motifs (recurring elements within a text) and themes
(broader ideas or messages). They focused on how motifs
Critiques function within the structure of a narrative.
Overemphasis on Form: Critics argue that Russian
Formalism can lead to a neglect of thematic depth and social Key Features:
context, focusing too heavily on form at the expense of
content and meaning. Structural Role of Motifs: They analyzed how motifs
Limited Scope: Some scholars contend that while the contribute to the overall meaning and coherence of a text,
formalist approach is useful, it may be too narrow to fully often reinforcing key themes through repetition.
account for the complexities of literature, particularly in
addressing cultural, political, and historical dimensions. Emphasis on Technique: By focusing on motifs, formalists
Lack of Engagement with Reader Response: Critics illuminated the techniques authors use to create meaning
highlight that formalist theories often overlook the role of the and establish connections between different narrative
reader in interpreting literature, reducing the dynamic nature elements.
of the reading experience.
4. Foregrounding
Conclusion
Overview: Foregrounding refers to the use of unusual or
Both Formalism and Russian Formalism offer valuable insights into
literary analysis, focusing on the intrinsic qualities of texts. While striking language and techniques to make certain elements of
Formalism emphasizes aesthetic experience and the significance of a text stand out. This concept highlights how form shapes
literary devices, Russian Formalism introduces innovative concepts reader perception.
such as defamiliarization and the distinct nature of literary language.
Despite critiques regarding their limitations, both movements have Key Features:
profoundly influenced modern literary theory, shaping how we
engage with and interpret literature today. Attention-Grabbing Techniques: Authors employ devices
like alliteration, metaphor, or unusual syntax to draw
Additional Concepts in Russian Formalism attention to specific aspects of a narrative.
1. Literary Evolution Creating Meaning: Foregrounding disrupts conventional
reading patterns, prompting readers to engage more deeply
Overview: Russian Formalists believed that literature with the text.
evolves in response to cultural and historical contexts.
They analyzed how literary forms develop and change over 5. The Role of the Reader
time.
Overview: While Russian Formalists emphasized the text's
form, they also acknowledged the reader's role in
Key Features: interpreting and creating meaning. This concept highlights
the dynamic relationship between text and reader.
Evolution of Devices: Formalists studied how specific
literary devices emerge, transform, or disappear in Key Features:
response to changing artistic trends and social conditions. Active Engagement: Readers are not passive recipients; they
actively construct meaning based on their interactions with
Impact of Tradition: They recognized that literature often the text.
builds upon or reacts against earlier works, contributing to Individual Interpretation: Each reader may interpret a text
an ongoing dialogue within the literary tradition. differently based on personal experiences and cultural
backgrounds, contributing to the richness of literary analysis.
