Differences ans similarities between formalism and new criticism

Formalism and New Criticism are two literary movements that emerged in the early 20th century, sharing some similarities, but also having distinct differences.

Similarities:

  1. Focus on the text itself: Both Formalism and New Criticism emphasize the importance of analyzing the literary text as a self-contained, autonomous entity, rather than considering external factors like the author's biography, historical context, or social influences.
  2. Attention to form and structure: Both movements prioritize the study of the text's formal elements, such as syntax, imagery, symbolism, and other literary devices, to understand its meaning and significance.
  3. Rejection of biographical and historical approaches: Both Formalism and New Criticism reject the idea that a text's meaning can be derived from the author's life, historical context, or social background.

Differences:

  1. Focus: Formalism focuses primarily on the text's formal structures, such as its organization, syntax, and use of language, to understand its meaning. New Criticism, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of the text's internal patterns, such as imagery, symbolism, and irony, to uncover its deeper meaning.
  2. Methodology: Formalism tends to be more analytical and descriptive, breaking down the text into its constituent parts to examine its formal features. New Criticism, by contrast, is more interpretive and analytical, seeking to uncover the text's underlying patterns and meanings.
  3. Theory of meaning: Formalism tends to view meaning as a product of the text's formal structures, while New Criticism sees meaning as emerging from the interaction between the text's formal elements and the reader's experience.
  4. Role of the reader: Formalism tends to view the reader as a passive recipient of the text's meaning, while New Criticism emphasizes the active role of the reader in constructing the text's meaning through their own interpretation and experience.
  5. Attitude towards the author: Formalism tends to view the author as a mere craftsman, whose role is to create a well-crafted text. New Criticism, on the other hand, sees the author as a creative artist, whose intentions and biases may influence the text's meaning.
  6. Influence: Formalism was more influential in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in the work of Russian Formalists like Viktor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson. New Criticism emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, particularly in the work of critics like Cleanth Brooks, Robert Penn Warren, and T.S. Eliot.

In summary, while both Formalism and New Criticism share a focus on the text itself and a rejection of external influences, Formalism tends to be more analytical and descriptive, focusing on the text's formal structures, whereas New Criticism is more interpretive and analytical, seeking to uncover the text's underlying patterns and meanings.