Formalism and new criticism

Formalism and New Criticism are two literary movements that emerged in the early 20th century, primarily in the United States and Europe. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct differences.

Formalism

Formalism is a literary movement that emphasizes the formal properties of a text, such as its structure, style, and language, over its historical or biographical context. Formalist critics believe that a text's meaning is determined by its internal structures and patterns, rather than by external factors such as the author's intentions or the historical period in which it was written.

Key features of Formalism:

1. Focus on the text itself, rather than its author or historical context.
2. Emphasis on the formal properties of the text, such as its structure, style, and language.
3. Belief that the text's meaning is determined by its internal structures and patterns.
4. Rejection of biographical or historical criticism.

Notable Formalist critics include:

• Viktor Shklovsky (Russian Formalist)
• Roman Jakobson (Russian Formalist)
• E.M. Forster (British Formalist)

New Criticism

New Criticism is a literary movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s in the United States. It is closely related to Formalism, but with some key differences. New Critics, like Formalists, focus on the text itself, but they also emphasize the importance of the reader's experience and the role of the reader in creating meaning.

Key features of New Criticism:

1. Focus on the text itself, rather than its author or historical context.
2. Emphasis on the reader's experience and the role of the reader in creating meaning.
3. Belief that the text's meaning is determined by its internal structures and patterns, but also by the reader's interpretation.
4. Use of close reading and textual analysis to uncover the text's underlying patterns and structures.

Notable New Critics include:

• I.A. Richards (British New Critic)
• William Empson (British New Critic)
• Cleanth Brooks (American New Critic)
• Robert Penn Warren (American New Critic)

Differences between Formalism and New Criticism

While both Formalism and New Criticism focus on the text itself, there are some key differences between the two movements:

• Formalism is more concerned with the text's internal structures and patterns, while New Criticism emphasizes the reader's experience and the role of the reader in creating meaning.
• Formalism is more rigid and dogmatic in its approach, while New Criticism is more open to different interpretations and readings.
• Formalism tends to focus on the text's surface level, while New Criticism looks for deeper meanings and underlying patterns.

Overall, both Formalism and New Criticism are important literary movements that have shaped the way we think about literature and literary criticism. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct differences that reflect their different approaches to understanding literature.