Russian Formalism and New Criticism

• Their approach to literature both dynamic and evolutinary not a formal or dogmatic one
• They wished to find a more objective way to criticise a literary work
• The first task of the russian formalist was to define new science
• To study literature is to study poetics
• Intentional Fallacy: Refers to the mistaken belief that the author’s intention is the same as the text’s meaning
• Affective Fallacy: Refers to confusing the text with the emotional responses that it might produce
• Autonomy of the text; Formalists argued that the text should e studied as a self-contained entity that all meaning can be derived from the text itself, the text should be independent from authorial intent and external influences.
• Organic Unity: Formalists assert that every aspect of a work should move towards the grander idea of a work. They argue that in analyzing specific parts or certain aspecs of a work such as plot, the character, setted style that all of it should function together to give a harmonius idea of a work as a whole. All of this to create a unified artistic expression.
• Defamiliarisation: Formalists argue that readers should read works that challange their preconceived notions. They want readers to experience the familiar in an unfamiliar way.
• Formalists closely examined the structure and organization of the text, they pay great attention to narrative techniques, such as, point of view, time manipulation and plot development.
• Form is the internal Mechanics of the work itself
• Through structure imagery syntax rhyme paradox literary language identify itself
• Fabula is the raw material of the story
• Syuzhet is the literary devices the writer uses to transform a story into plot
• Literature is not the vision of an author or authorial intent
• To study literature is to study its form and its content
• Form is superior to content
• The poem’s overall meaning or form depends solely on the text in front of the reader.
• Formalist conduct close reading