Name the theorist from the following list who is linked to formalism ?
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Answer: A. Viktor Shklovsky
Explanation
Viktor Shklovsky was a founding member of Russian Formalism, known for introducing critical concepts like defamiliarization. His theoretical writings established formalist methodologies prioritizing literary craft over biographical background. He argued that literary study must analyze the specific formal devices that distinguish poetic language from practical speech. Russian Formalism flourished during the early twentieth century before being suppressed by Soviet political authorities. The movement sought to establish literary criticism as an objective science focused strictly on internal text mechanics. Scholars associated with this circle revolutionized narrative theory by distinguishing between story plot and narrative structure.
Modern literary theory traces many foundational structuralist and post-structuralist ideas directly back to Russian Formalism. University syllabi introduce Shklovsky's essays to teach students the basics of objective textual analysis. Understanding his theories helps scholars evaluate how artistic form generates aesthetic emotional responses. Option B refers to Cleanth Brooks, a prominent American New Critic rather than a Russian Formalist. Option C is Judith Butler, a leading contemporary theorist known for gender performativity and queer theory. Option D is Mikhail Bakhtin, whose dialogic theories emphasized social context over isolated formalist structures.
- Subject
- English
- Category
- English Literature
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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