what is formalist approach

The formalist approach is a critical approach to literature that focuses on the text itself, rather than on the biographical and historical relevance of the work or the authors personal life. It examines a text as a self-contained object, analyzing its form, structure, style, tone, point of view, diction, and other elements that contribute to its meaning. The main focus is on the arrangement of language, rather than on the implications of the words. Formalist criticism analyzes the form of a literary work to discover its true meaning, which can be determined only by analyzing the literary elements of the text and by understanding how these elements work together. The formalist approach is often referred to as "a scientific approach to literature," because it advocates methodical and systematic readings of texts. It excludes any external elements or outside information, such as the authors personal life or the social and historical background of the time the text was written or the readers perception about the work.