Formalism: An Informative Overview

Introduction: Formalism is a school of literary theory and criticism that

emerged in the early 20th century, emphasizing the intrinsic features of a text
—its form, structure, language, and style—over external factors such as
authorial intent, historical context, or political influence. Formalists argue that
a literary work’s meaning, value, and aesthetic qualities can be understood by
examining the text itself, focusing on its formal elements like imagery, syntax,
rhyme, meter, and narrative structure. This approach encourages a close,
detailed reading of the text, aiming to uncover how its artistic qualities
contribute to its overall effect.

Key Tenets of Formalism:

1. Focus on the Text Itself: Formalism posits that the meaning of a work of
literature can be derived primarily from the text itself, without relying on
external factors such as biographical information or socio-political
context.

2. Literary Devices and Techniques: Formalists analyze the use of literary

devices such as symbolism, metaphor, narrative structure, and rhyme.
They are particularly interested in how these techniques work together
to create the effect of the text.

3. Autonomy of Literature: Formalism treats literature as an autonomous

field, separate from other forms of cultural and historical analysis. It
emphasizes the text’s self-contained nature and argues that a literary
work must be considered independently of its historical or social origins.

4. Aesthetic Experience: Formalist critics often assert that the primary

function of literature is to produce an aesthetic experience for the
reader, engaging emotions and intellectual faculties through the
arrangement of words and images.

Key Theorists of Formalism

1. Viktor Shklovsky (1893–1984):

 o Key Ideas: A leading figure in Russian Formalism, Shklovsky is best
known for his theory of "defamiliarization" (also known as
ostranenie). He argued that the primary function of art is to make
the familiar strange, thereby forcing the reader to engage with the
ordinary in a new, more attentive way. In his essay Art as
Technique (1917), Shklovsky contended that literature should
disrupt habitual perception, and this could be achieved through
literary devices that jar the reader from their everyday
understanding.

o Contribution: Shklovsky's emphasis on the technical and formal

aspects of literature, such as rhythm and metaphor, shaped much
of Formalist thought. His ideas paved the way for a shift in focus
from content and meaning to form and structure.

2. Roman Jakobson (1896–1982):

o Key Ideas: Jakobson was a Russian linguist and one of the central
figures of Structuralism and Formalism. He developed the theory
of poetic function, which highlights how language in poetry is
used to create an aesthetic experience. According to Jakobson,
poetry focuses on the “message for its own sake,” often
emphasizing sound, rhythm, and the formal properties of
language. In his essay Linguistics and Poetics (1960), Jakobson
elaborates on the six functions of language, with the poetic
function being the most prominent in literary texts.

o Contribution: Jakobson’s work connected Formalist principles to

linguistics, enriching the study of literary form and structure. His
concept of the “poetic function” placed an emphasis on the
materiality of language and its ability to evoke aesthetic pleasure
through its formal qualities.

3. Boris Eikhenbaum (1889–1959):

o Key Ideas: A member of the Russian Formalist movement,

Eikhenbaum contributed to the study of literary form, particularly
through the lens of narrative technique. His influential essay How
 Gogol's Overcoat Is Made (1919) demonstrated how an author’s
choice of form, structure, and style contributed to the meaning
and impact of a work, focusing on specific technical elements
rather than thematic concerns.

o Contribution: Eikhenbaum advanced the notion that the formal

aspects of a text are integral to its meaning, further emphasizing
the importance of analyzing how a literary work is constructed,
not just what it conveys.

4. Yury Tynianov (1894–1943):

o Key Ideas: Tynianov was a central figure in Russian Formalism,

known for his work on the literary system and the concept of
literary evolution. He proposed that literature evolves through
changes in literary forms and genres, influenced by internal,
structural forces within the literary system. Tynianov’s work
extended Formalist analysis beyond individual texts to consider
how literary forms interact and evolve over time.

o Contribution: Tynianov's approach highlighted the dynamic,

evolving nature of literary form, which contributed to the
Formalist understanding of literature as a system of interrelated
structures that change in response to cultural and historical
pressures.

5. Cleanth Brooks (1906–1994):

o Key Ideas: While Brooks is more often associated with New

Criticism, his ideas align with Formalism in many ways. His
emphasis on the close reading of the text, without reference to
authorial intent or historical context, echoes Formalist principles.
In his work The Well Wrought Urn (1947), Brooks emphasized the
importance of paradox, irony, and ambiguity in poetry, focusing on
how these formal elements contribute to the unity of the text.

o Contribution: Brooks contributed to the formalist tradition by

advocating for an analysis that isolates the text from external
 factors, focusing solely on its formal elements and structure to
uncover its meaning.

Influence and Legacy of Formalism

Formalism had a profound influence on 20th-century literary criticism,

especially in its focus on the text as an independent object of study. The
approach set the stage for subsequent movements such as Structuralism and
New Criticism, which continued to explore how the form and structure of a
work contribute to its meaning.

However, Formalism also faced criticism, particularly for its rejection of

historical, social, and authorial context. Critics argued that by focusing solely on
the text, Formalism ignored the deeper meanings embedded in the cultural
and historical context of the work. Despite this, Formalism's emphasis on close
reading and attention to form remains a cornerstone of literary analysis.

Conclusion

Formalism is a critical approach that foregrounds the form, structure, and

intrinsic features of a text over its content or external context. Rooted in
Russian Formalism and further developed in various literary traditions, it
emphasizes the role of literary techniques in creating meaning and effect. The
movement’s key theorists, including Viktor Shklovsky, Roman Jakobson, Boris
Eikhenbaum, Yury Tynianov, and Cleanth Brooks, contributed significantly to
the development of modern literary criticism. Despite facing critiques,
Formalism’s legacy in the field of literary studies endures, particularly in the
practice of close reading and the focus on literary devices as central to
understanding a work’s aesthetic and intellectual impact.