Literary Criticism: Moralistic vs. Formalist Approaches

Literary criticism is a field of study where scholars analyze different aspects of literature such as themes, style, plot structure, character development, symbolism, imagery, syntax, etc. Two main approaches used by literary critics are the moralistic approach and the formalist approach.

The moralistic approach focuses on analyzing how characters behave morally within their stories. This critique explores what lessons readers can learn from the text, looking closely at individual choices made by these characters. It often looks at how people act, with particular emphasis on good versus evil behavior. Moralist critics believe it's important to understand human nature. They think that literature shows us who we really are deep down inside when faced with difficult situations.

On the other hand, the formalist approach emphasizes form over meaning and involves decoding the ways authors create certain effects using specific techniques like metaphors, symbols, and narratives. Formalists look at how writers arrange information to make their point more effectively. They examine things like setting, tone, mood, theme, irony, and word choice. Form is whatever gives shape or pattern to material; in short, it’s the arrangement of elements into a whole. Formal analyses aim to show how this arrangement helps convey ideas, emotions, values, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, facts, and so forth through various text features.

In essence, while both kinds of analysis involve reading closely and carefully examining texts, they differ significantly in focus and methodology. Moralist critics seek out messages contained in texts regarding right actions and bad ones. They want to know if there are any underlying moral principles that drive characters and plots forward. In contrast, formalist critics scrutinize forms rather than meanings – they investigate arrangements instead of contents. Both types have been influential throughout history, attracting many followers along the way. Today, some literary critics combine methods from several schools, including formalist and moralist approaches, to create a comprehensive understanding of any given work.