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Questions and Answers
What was the primary focus of Russian Formalists when analyzing literature?
What was the primary focus of Russian Formalists when analyzing literature?
Which of the following is true about the focus of New Criticism?
Which of the following is true about the focus of New Criticism?
What literary technique did Viktor Shklovsky coin as a key concept in Formalism?
What literary technique did Viktor Shklovsky coin as a key concept in Formalism?
How would a Formalist approach the analysis of a poem?
How would a Formalist approach the analysis of a poem?
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Who were prominent figures associated with New Criticism?
Who were prominent figures associated with New Criticism?
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What is the main aim of the defamiliarization technique as described?
What is the main aim of the defamiliarization technique as described?
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When did New Criticism primarily develop?
When did New Criticism primarily develop?
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In which work did Viktor Shklovsky first publish his ideas on defamiliarization?
In which work did Viktor Shklovsky first publish his ideas on defamiliarization?
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What aspect of language were Russian Formalists especially interested in?
What aspect of language were Russian Formalists especially interested in?
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What characterizes the approach of New Criticism compared to that of Formalism?
What characterizes the approach of New Criticism compared to that of Formalism?
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What is the primary focus of New Critics in literature?
What is the primary focus of New Critics in literature?
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Which of the following did Formalists prioritize in their study of literature?
Which of the following did Formalists prioritize in their study of literature?
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What is the concept introduced by Roman Jakobson related to language?
What is the concept introduced by Roman Jakobson related to language?
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What term describes the technique of emphasizing certain elements of language to stand out?
What term describes the technique of emphasizing certain elements of language to stand out?
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What does the term 'defamiliarization' refer to in literary studies?
What does the term 'defamiliarization' refer to in literary studies?
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Which work is associated with Viktor Shklovsky?
Which work is associated with Viktor Shklovsky?
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How do Formalists view a text in relation to its creator?
How do Formalists view a text in relation to its creator?
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What distinguishes 'selection' from 'combination' in Jakobson's theory?
What distinguishes 'selection' from 'combination' in Jakobson's theory?
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What is the primary goal of the study of literary devices by Formalists?
What is the primary goal of the study of literary devices by Formalists?
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Which of the following best defines the term 'metonymy' as used in Jakobson's analysis?
Which of the following best defines the term 'metonymy' as used in Jakobson's analysis?
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What is a key difference between Formalism and New Criticism?
What is a key difference between Formalism and New Criticism?
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How did Russian Formalists like Viktor Shklovsky approach the study of literature?
How did Russian Formalists like Viktor Shklovsky approach the study of literature?
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What technique is associated with the ability to make common language appear beautiful in literature?
What technique is associated with the ability to make common language appear beautiful in literature?
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Who were some of the notable figures associated with New Criticism?
Who were some of the notable figures associated with New Criticism?
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What does a New Critic prioritize when analyzing a literary text?
What does a New Critic prioritize when analyzing a literary text?
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In which decade did New Criticism primarily emerge?
In which decade did New Criticism primarily emerge?
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What aspect of poetry would a Formalist focus on when analyzing its language?
What aspect of poetry would a Formalist focus on when analyzing its language?
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What was the publication year of Viktor Shklovsky's work 'Theory of Prose'?
What was the publication year of Viktor Shklovsky's work 'Theory of Prose'?
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Which of the following best describes the focus of New Critics?
Which of the following best describes the focus of New Critics?
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What did the formalist approach equate to examining the 'parts of a car' in literature?
What did the formalist approach equate to examining the 'parts of a car' in literature?
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What is the distinction between metaphor and metonymy in Roman Jakobson's analysis?
What is the distinction between metaphor and metonymy in Roman Jakobson's analysis?
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Which of the following best represents the concept of Foregrounding in literary analysis?
Which of the following best represents the concept of Foregrounding in literary analysis?
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What technique does the process of Defamiliarization aim to achieve in literary works?
What technique does the process of Defamiliarization aim to achieve in literary works?
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How do Formalists differ from New Critics in their literary analysis focus?
How do Formalists differ from New Critics in their literary analysis focus?
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Who contributed significantly to the principles of Russian Formalism alongside Viktor Shklovsky?
Who contributed significantly to the principles of Russian Formalism alongside Viktor Shklovsky?
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What is the primary focus of literary studies according to the Formalist perspective?
What is the primary focus of literary studies according to the Formalist perspective?
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What is the principle effect of employing the technique of selection in poetry?
What is the principle effect of employing the technique of selection in poetry?
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What characteristic of a text is emphasized by Formalists in their analysis?
What characteristic of a text is emphasized by Formalists in their analysis?
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What is one of the primary goals of studying poetic language according to Russian Formalism?
What is one of the primary goals of studying poetic language according to Russian Formalism?
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Study Notes
Formalism and New Criticism
- Formalism and New Criticism, while both focusing on the text, differ in approach.
- Formalism, a 1910s-1920s Russian movement, used a scientific approach, analyzing literary language as distinct from everyday language. Think of it like analyzing a car's parts—how do the brakes, clutch, and engine interact? Formalists analyzed literary elements similarly.
- New Criticism (1930s-1940s, America) emphasized close, detailed analysis of individual texts, focusing on meaning derived from elements within the text (irony, paradox, ambiguity) rather than authorial intent or historical context.
Formalism Principles
- Text as Independent Entity: Formalists view texts as complete units, separate from their author and historical background.
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Focus on Literary Devices: This includes analyzing:
- Grammar, syntax
- Literary devices and tropes
- Meter, rhythm
- Structure, form
- Literature as Language Art: Studying poetic language as distinct from ordinary language, focusing on the art of literary language.
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Defamiliarization (Shklovsky): Making familiar language unfamiliar and more poetic through techniques.
- Example: "The sun set" (ordinary) vs. "The burning sphere drowned itself in the horizon's mouth" (poetic/defamiliarized). This allows the reader to appreciate the nuances and beauty in familiar subjects.
Key Formalist Figures and Works
-
Viktor Shklovsky: "Art as Technique" (1925); head of OPOJAZ (Society for the Study of Poetic Language).
- Author of "Poetics"
- Author of "On the theory of prose" (1926, 1929)
- Roman Jakobson: "Linguistics and Poetics"; "Functions of Language"; "Modern Russian Poetry" (1921).
- Vladimir Propp: "Morphology of the Folktale" (1928).
Further Formalist Concepts
-
Foregrounding (Mukarovsky): Making specific elements of language stand out from their usual context, visually or in meaning. Foregrounding is quite similar to defamiliarization.
- Example: "The rain falls heavily" (ordinary) vs. "The sky weeps torrents of tears" (foregrounded/poetic)
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Metaphor and Metonymy (Jakobson): Both concepts in "selection and combinations" relating to language use as ways of making common language poetic through:
- Metaphor (Selection): Vertical paradigm, where the poet chooses unusual comparisons.
- Metonymy (Combination): Horizontal paradigm, where connections and relationships in language are established with the use of imagery.
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Description
Explore the differences between Formalism and New Criticism in literary theory. This quiz delves into the principles, approaches, and techniques used by both movements to analyze texts independently of their authors. Test your understanding of literary devices and the textual focus emphasized in each critical approach.
