Formalism
An Analysis of the Mind of a Formalist Critic
By Chelsey Paholski, Maeve Flynn, and Rachel Carlson
WHAT IS FORMALISM?

All information essential
to interpretation of a piece of literature must be found
within the work

No Need for bringing outside information

Includes:
History
 Politics
 Society of the time
 Author’s life

TYPES OF QUESTIONS A FORMALIST
CRITIC WOULD ASK:





What is the genre, or form, of the piece of
literature?
Who is speaking in the piece of literature?
What is the argument, thesis, or subject of the
piece of literature?
What is the structure of the piece of literature?
How does the piece of literature make use of
setting?
CONTINUED….




Are there key statements or conflicts in the piece
of literature that appear central to its meaning?
What feelings are evoked as the reader interprets
the text?
How does the make use of literary devices (i.e.
imagery, setting, characters, metaphors, similes,
etc.)?
What meaning can be developed from the text?
Advantages


Does not require much
research

Emphasizes the value of
literature apart from its
context (makes it timeless)

Sees structure and patterns




Disadvantages
Virtually all critical
approaches must begin here
Appreciates literary devices

Text is seen in isolation
Ignores the context of the
work
Does not account for allusions
Reduces literature to little
more than a collection of
rhetorical devices
EXPERIENCES

Used this in Utopian Society

Did presentations on four types of criticism: Feminism,
Reader Response, Marxism and of course Formalism

After presentations knew each criticism

Wrote four papers using different types of criticism
used Formalism for two of them
 Books: “Everlost” and “Uglies”


Also used formalist criticism for a movie review on
The Village
EXAMPLES IN LITERATURE

“The Banking Concept of Education”


“To Kill a Mockingbird”


by Paulo Freire
by Harper Lee
“Ethan Frome”

by Edith Wharton
“THE ‘BANKING’ CONCEPT OF EDUCATION”
BY PAULO FREIRE
Metaphor:
“Narration (with the teacher as a narrator) leads the students to
memorize mechanically the narrated content. Worse yet, it
turns them into ‘containers,’ into ‘receptacles’ to be ‘filled’ by the
teacher” (Freire 260)
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
BY HARPER LEE
Point of View:
“I received a letter and a snapshot from him” (Lee
116)
ETHAN FROME
BY EDITH WHARTON
Symbols:
The pickle dish
“‘Oh Ethan, Ethan—its all to pieces! What will
Zeena say?...Oh, you’ll never get one another
even there? It was a wedding present don’t you
remember? It came all the way from Philadelphia
from Zeena’s aunt that married the minister.
That’s why she would never use it. Oh, Ethan,
Ethan what in the world shall I do’” (Wharton
42)?
HOW ONE APPLIES FORMALISM

Formalism leads to development of reading strategies,
authorial techniques, and language uses

Can occur in English class or when reading

Gives students a new “objective” approach to
literature or on an approach involving considering
writing a piece of literature with formal and
observable patterns
USEFUL WEBSITES…
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http://www.write.armstrong.edu/handouts/Formalism.pdf
http://www.ksu.edu.sa/colleges/art/eng/461Eng/Literary%20Criticism%20Map.htm
http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.php
WORKS CITED
"Critical Approaches." VirtualLit. Web. 18 Sept. 2009.
<http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/virtualit/poetry/critical_define/crit_newcrit.html>.
Freire, Paulo. “The Banking Concept of Education,” Ways of Reading. New York: St.
Martin’s Press, 2002. 259-268. Print.
"Introduction to Modern Literary Theory." Homepage - Dr. Kristi Siegel. Web. 22 Sept.
2009. <http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm#newcriticism>.
Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird. J.B. Lippincott, 1960. Print.
Lye, John, . "John Lye's Course and Source Page." Critical Reading: A Guide.
09/12/2009. Brock University, Web. 21 Sep 2009.
<http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.php>.
Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. New York: Scribner's, 1911. Print.
Writing Center. Armstrong Atlantic State University. Web. 21 Sept. 2009.
<http://www.write.armstrong.edu/handouts/Formalism.pdf>.