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Formalism

An Analysis of the Mind of a Formalist Critic By Chelsey Paholski, Maeve Flynn, and Rachel Carlson. Formalism. 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

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Formalism

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  1. An Analysis of the Mind of a Formalist Critic By Chelsey Paholski, Maeve Flynn, and Rachel Carlson Formalism

  2. What is Formalism? • All information essential to interpretation of a piece of literature must be found within the work • No Needfor bringing outside information • Includes: • History • Politics • Society of the time • Author’s life

  3. 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?

  4. 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?

  5. Advantages Disadvantages • Does not require much research • Emphasizes the value of literature apart from its context (makes it timeless) • Sees structure and patterns • 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

  6. 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

  7. Examples in Literature • “The Banking Concept of Education” • by Paulo Freire • “To Kill a Mockingbird” • by Harper Lee • “Ethan Frome” • by Edith Wharton

  8. “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)

  9. To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee Point of View: “I received a letter and a snapshot from him” (Lee 116)

  10. Ethan FromeBy 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)?

  11. 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

  12. Useful Websites… • http://www.write.armstrong.edu/handouts/Formalism.pdf • http://www.ksu.edu.sa/colleges/art/eng/461-Eng/Literary%20Criticism%20Map.htm • http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.php

  13. 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>.

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