Write a critical note on the formalistic approach to literature.

Russian Formalism is an intrinsic approach to literature that
flourished in Russia around the 1920’s.

The Russian formalists
argued that the literary text should be studied as a collection of devices without any reference
to historical, social, biographical, or other contexts. Instead, the literary work should be
defined by its form and devices.

Here are some of the important
concepts concerning Russian
Formalism:

Defamiliarisation:

Literary
language is different from ordinary language because it prevents the habitual or automatic
perception of objects, ideas and experiences. Thus, literary language uses devices to make what
is familiar seem strange and unfamiliar in order to heighten the reader’s awareness of the
text.

Fabula/Story

It refers to the
“raw material” of what is told to the reader, the events in the order they
happen.

Sjuzet/Plot

It refers to the
“artistic” presentation of the story, which can depict the events in chronological order or can
present them out of order.