Formalist Criticism Steve and Dan Definition Formalist criticism

Formalist Criticism Steve and Dan

Definition • Formalist criticism is an approach to literature that focuses on the formal elements of a work, such as language, structure, tone and theme.

Background Information • This type of criticism arose in the 1920’s and 1930’s but did not flourish until the 1940’s. It rose to flourish as a act against romanticism. • Someone most likely would use this approach because formalist criticism provides one “correct” interpretation.

Advantage • This approach can be performed without much research. • It makes literature timeless. • All critical approaches must begin here.

Disadvantage • • The text is seen in isolation. Formalism ignores the context of the work. It cannot account for allusions. It tends to reduce literature to little more than a collection of rhetorical, stylistic devices.

Analysis of “My Father and the Fig Tree” • In every stanza, readers can see dialogues from the characters within the poem. This greatly enhances the description of each character.

Example • “I’m talking about a fig straight from the earth – gift of Allah! – on a branch so heavy it touches the ground. I’m talking about picking the largest, fattest, sweetest fig in the world and putting it in my mouth” • This dialogue is from the narrator’s father. • This dialogue shows that her father is very enthusiastic about figs.

Another Example • “What a dreamer he is. Look how many things he starts and doesn’t finish. ” • This dialogue is from narrator’s mother. • This dialogue shows that the mother is a very criticizing person.

Credits Sherlock, Karl J. “Dramatist’s Glossary. ” Grossmount. edu. N. p. , n. d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013 Murfin, Ross, and Supryia M. Ray. "Definition of Formalism. " Virtua. Lit: Critical Approaches. Virtua. Lit, n. d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013.