What is Formalism in Literary Criticism? Meaning, Key Concepts, and Why Every Literature Student Needs It
Learn what Formalism in literary criticism is, its origin, key concepts like defamiliarization and fabula vs syuzhet, explained simply for BA, MA, and UGC NET students.
Formalism in Literary Criticism: Meaning, Definition & Key Concepts
Introduction
In our previous post, we explored the world of Literary Criticism and how experts like Aristotle and Plato viewed literature. For a long time, people believed that to understand a book, you must know about the author’s life or the history of that time.
But in the early 20th century, a new idea called Formalism (also known as Russian Formalism) changed everything. Formalism tells us to stop looking "outside" and start looking "inside" the book—at the words, the structure, and the style.
What is Formalism?
The word Formalism comes from the Latin word “Forma,” which simply means shape or structure.
Imagine you are looking at a beautiful painting. You don’t really need to know the painter’s biography to enjoy the colors and the brushstrokes, right? Formalism is exactly like that. It treats a poem or a story as a self-contained work of art.
The Concept: Formalism is studying a text by focusing only on the writing itself, separate from the author’s life or social background.
How Did It Start?
Formalism began in Russia because scholars like Viktor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson wanted to study literature more systematically. They believed we should focus on "Literariness"—the special and artistic use of language that separates literary writing from ordinary speech.
3 Key Concepts (Made Easy)
This is the most famous idea in Formalism. We get so used to seeing things every day that we stop noticing them. A writer uses "strange" language to make us notice things again.
Normal Speech: "The clock was ticking in the silent room."
Defamiliarized (Formalist Style): "A small iron heart was beating against the wall, measuring our life in tiny clicks."
📌 Note: This concept was introduced by Viktor Shklovsky (Often asked in UGC NET).
2. Fabula vs. Syuzhet (Story vs. Plot)
Fabula: The raw events in the order they happened (A, then B, then C).
Syuzhet: The creative way the writer tells those events (like using flashbacks). For Formalists, the Syuzhet (the style) is more important than the simple story.
3. Form Over Content
Formalists believe that “How you say it” is more important than “What you say.” They feel that literary devices like metaphors and rhythm are what give the text its real meaning.
How to Analyze a Text Like a Formalist
When you read a poem or story using this method, you focus on:
The Language: How are the words chosen?
Imagery & Symbols: What do they represent inside the story?
The Structure: How is the text put together?
What to ignore? The author's personal life, their politics, or the history of the world. In Formalism, the text is the only thing that matters!
Why This is Helpful for Students
Formalism is very helpful because:
It teaches disciplined reading.
It improves Close Reading skills.
It helps you write clear and structured exam answers.
👉 This is exactly why I explain literary terms like metaphor, simile, irony, and paradox in a very simple way on my YouTube channel—so that beginners can understand how these techniques function inside a text, not just memorize definitions.
💡Personal Insight
While studying Formalism, I realized that many students find literary texts difficult not because the ideas are complex, but because they do not know how to read the text closely. Formalism helps us slow down and pay attention to language and structure.
For me, Formalism works as a foundation. It trains students to first understand the text itself before moving towards interpretation. This approach builds confidence and makes literary study less confusing.
If you are new to theory, read our previous post on Literary Criticism.
This approach connects closely with Liberal Humanism, discussed earlier.
Conclusion
Formalism might feel a bit technical, but it’s the best way to start a deep friendship with literature. It reminds us that literature is, first and foremost, an art of words.
✨ If you want to read more about English Literature, literary forms, genres, and critical approaches, stay connected with ShariyaWrites.
Coming Up Next: We’ll dive into New Criticism and see how it took this "Text-Only" approach to the next level. Stay tuned!
Disclaimer: Save this post! You’ll need to come back to this timeline at least once a week until exam day.
This article is written for educational purposes and is based on multiple academic sources, interpreted in the author’s own words.
About the Author
ShariyaWrites believes that literature is not a burden to memorize, but an emotion to understand. Through blogs, reels, and videos, she simplifies English Literature for students and readers who want to connect texts with life.🔗 Explore more of her work here:
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