This document provides an overview of Russian Formalism, a school of literary criticism that originated in Russia during World War I. It emphasizes studying the form of literary works rather than their content. Key aspects discussed include the belief that literary language is different from everyday speech, the importance of devices like defamiliarization, and notable Russian formalist thinkers like Victor Shklovsky and Boris Eichenbaum. The document also discusses the later Bakhtin School that attempted to reconcile formalism with Marxism, and the impact and influence of Russian Formalism on literary analysis and linguistic circles in both Europe and America.

1. SHRI BALAJI INFOTECH
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Russian Formalism
Literary Criticism
Important Points with Explanation
By Payal Mudliar

2. Russian Formalism
▪ Formalism is a school of literary criticism.
▪ It is originated in the former Soviet Union during 1st World War.
▪ Formalism influenced Russian Literary Criticism from 1914 to 1930.
▪ The term ‘Formalism’ was first used by the adversaries of the movement.
▪ Formalists believed that literary language was different from everyday
speech or usage.

3. Russian Formalism
▪ According to them literary language had a
special function to perform.
▪ It stressed the importance of studying form.
▪ The formalists were also linguistics, who were interested in scientific
examination of style.
▪ Their interest in form and literariness developed into a study of
literary devices called foregrounding.
▪ They made a study of the rhythmic patterns, syntax, structures,
imagery, etc.

4. Russian Formalism
▪ Theory of defamiliarization according to
Victor Shklovsky – “Literary writing deviates from ordinary
language & enables the reader & enables the world in a strange way.
▪ Some notable Russian formalists –
1. Boris Eichenbaum
2. Victor Shklovsky
3. YuruTynyanov
4. Roman Jakobson

5. Russian Formalism
▪ They emphasized ‘form’ rather than ‘content’ in
literary texts.
▪ Victor Shklovsky in his 1917 essay ‘ Art as Device’ gave a
mechanistic view of literary process.
▪ Regarded ‘Plot’ in a narrative as a defamiliarised version of
story.
▪ Moscow linguistic circle was founded in 1915 & OPOJAZ in 1916.

6. Russian Formalism
The Bakhtin School –
1. It is emerged in the second half of formalist era.
2. It is led by Mikhail Bakhtin and Pavel Medvede.
3. It tried to reconcile Marxism ans formalism
4. Basic tenets of the school were the language could not be
separated from ideology.
5. Language is socially constructed sign-system.

7. Russian Formalism
Impact of formalism–
1. It has origin in Russia in the time of 1917 revolution.
2. It’s impact on Europe as well as in America.
3. It established Prague Linguistic Circle
4. It planted the seeds of structuralism.
5. It showed interest in scientific examination of style.
6. It shows literary language as special kind of language.

8. Russian Formalism
Impact of formalism–
7. It led to establish
▪ Moscow Linguistic Circle.
▪ OPOJAZ
▪ Prague Linguistic Circle
▪ Bakhtin School

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