LITERARY THEORIES

“ FORMALISM THEORY“

ARRANGED BY:

PINDY
INDAYANTI

(40300118009)

INDAH FATA
MORGANA
(40300118042)

NABILA NURIKA AMARTA (40300118027)

AHMAD TRYADI RAMADHAN (40300118045)

LECTURER :

Dr. M. Dahlan, S.S., M.Hum

ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTEMENT

ADAB AND HUMANITY FACULTY

ALAUDDIN STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MAKASSAR

2019/2020

PREFACE

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 With all the praise and thanks to God for the Almighty, who has given the love and
mercy so this paper of FORMALISM THEORY can we finish well. The paper is structured to
fulfill the group assignment to present it on LITERARY THEORIES courses.

On this occasion, we would like to thank profusely to all those who have helped us in
completing the writing of this paper, to Dr. M. Dahlan, S.S., M.Hum, as lecturer in subject
LITERARY THEORIES for the support and motivation and also to all of the member of the
group for writing this paper.

We are fully aware that there are many flaws in the writing of this paper, interms of
material, and also the technic of reasearch or the theory. Therefore, we expect criticism and
constructive suggestions to further refine the writing of this paper. Finally, we hope that the
writing of this paper can be useful for readers.

Gowa, September 8th 2020

Author.

TABLE OF CONTENT

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PREFACE ..................................................................................................... 2

TABLE OF CONTENT .................................................................................3

CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND ........................................................................4
B. PROBLEM FORMULATION.....................................................5
C. OBJECTIVE.................................................................................5

CHAPTER II : DISCUSSION
A. The Definition of Formalism Theory..........................................6
B. The concept of Russian Formalism about poetry.........................8
C. The Figure of Formalism............................................................10
D. The sample analysis....................................................................11

CHAPTER III CONCLUSION

A. Conclusion .......................................................................................13
B. Suggestion ........................................................................................13

REFERENCES ..........................................................................................14

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

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A. BACKGROUND
Etymologically, formalism comes from the word forma (latin), which means form
or form. In literature, formalism is the theory used to analyze a literary work prioritizing
the form of literary works which includes pronunciation techniques-covers rhythm,
rhyme, aquistik / sound, alliteration, assonance etc., formal words (formal words) and not
content and is free from external elements such as history, biography, context culture etc.
so that literature can stand itself (autonomous) as a science and free from the influence of
other sciences. Theory This formalist aims to know integration of the elements contained
in literary work so that it can establish the integrity of form and content with how to
research the elements of literature, poetry, association, opposition, etc.

Formalism is one schools of modern literary theory. The literary and linguistic
experts gather in two groups, namely The Moscow The member Linguistics Circle (1915)
most of the linguists, and The Opojaz Group (1916) for the most part the members are
literary experts. Opojaz too is The Society for the Study of Poetic Language. The main
character is Roman Jakobson founder of Prague Linguistics Circle and the main character
the second group is Victor Shlovsky.

Formalism is a reaction to a positivistic approach to literature which is an

approach based on the philosophy of positivism, that is a notion that considers that all
science must be based observable facts. Science which is not based on description the
five senses, according to this understanding, are rejected because it is considered empty
speculation. Positivism thinking has an impact strong on thinking in generalespecially
literary experts. The formalists reject this assumption that literary text is a reflection
individual or community image. According to them, literary texts are facts a matter which
is built on words.

B. PROBLEM FORMULATION
1. What is Formalism Theory?
2. What is the concept of Russian Formalism about poetry?

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 3. Who are the Figure of Formalism?
4. How about the sample analysis?

C. OBJECTIVE
1. To know what is Formalism Theory.
2. To know the concept of Russian Formalism about Poetry.
3. To know the Figure of Formalism.
4. To know the sample analysis.

CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

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A. Introduction

Etymologically, formalism comes from the word forma (latin), which means form or
form. In literature, formalism is the theory used to analyze a literary work prioritizing the form of
literary works which includes pronunciation techniques-covers rhythm, rhyme, aquistik / sound,
alliteration, assonance etc., formal words (formal words) and not content and is free from
external elements such as history, biography, context culture etc. so that literature can stand itself
(autonomous) as a science and free from the influence of other sciences. Theory This formalist
aims to know integration of the elements contained in literary work so that it can establish the
integrity of form and content with how to research the elements of literature, poetry, association,
opposition, etc.1

While in the dictionary of terms Panuti Sudjiman's literature, formalism is a stream of

literary criticism emphasize sound and word patterns formal (traditional). Even so with Russian
formalism is alliran literary critic born in Russia in 1999 1920s as a reaction to flow literary
criticism prevailing in Russia of the time that, which emphasizes the content and social
characteristics a literary work. Russian formalism arose thanks to experiments in avant-garde
literature its nature.2

Russian formalism is a designation given to that group developed a method they call it
the "formal method" (formal 'nyj method) this group is what appeared in Russia. The birth of
formalism Russia is delivered by an essay from Victor Sklovskij published by Piter in
St.Petersburg in 1914.

Formalism is one schools of modern literary theory. The literary and linguistic experts
gather in two groups, namely The Moscow The member Linguistics Circle (1915) most of the
linguists, and The Opojaz Group (1916) for the most part the members are literary experts.
Opojaz too is The Society for the Study of Poetic Language. The main character is Roman
Jakobson founder of Prague Linguistics Circle and the main character the second group is Victor
Shlovsky.

1
http://arwinkim.blogspot.co.id/2010/05/pengertianteori- formalisme.html
2
Panuti Sudjiman, 1990, Kamus Istilah Sastra, Jakarta: UI Press, hal. 31.

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 Formalism is a reaction to a positivistic approach to literature which is an approach based
on the philosophy of positivism, that is a notion that considers that all science must be based
observable facts. Science which is not based on description the five senses, according to this
understanding, are rejected because it is considered empty speculation. Positivism thinking has
an impact strong on thinking in generalespecially literary experts. The formalists reject this
assumption that literary text is a reflection individual or community image. According to them,
literary texts are facts a matter which is built on words. On the other hand the formalists too
using 2 concepts, namely the concept "Defamiliarization" and "de-automation". This concept is
used for contrasting literary works with life or everyday reality. Something familiar and familiar
absorbed automatically, in literary works understanding is complicated or delayed so it feels
strange and odd ones the goal is to make the reader bigger interested in shape.

The formalists are no longer make poetry the one and only the object of study is no
longer integrated odd means or alienate literary works. Shlovky develop the theory of the
opposition "fabula" (story) with sjuzet (plot). Fabula is basic material in the form of a storyline
according to logic and chronology of events, meanwhile sjuzet is a means of making way the
story becomes odd or strange.3

In the history of Arabic literary criticism, his modern literary criticism theory is initiated
with the birth of the theory of formalism (asySyakliyyah) in Russia in the year 1915- 1930s.
That's what it said Luxemburg took this theory as layer the basis of modern literature. At least a
theory it judges literature as language aesthetic, not ordinary language. Theory formalism wants
to liberate works literature from the sphere of other sciences such as psychology, history, or
cultural research, according to theory formalism, literary approach through other sciences less so
convincing. In summary the literature wants he sees as an act of language or words. Poetry, for
example is seen as sound, morphology, syntax and semantics. Effort this was pioneered by
Roman Jakobson, Eichenbaum and others. Because it was born in Russia, then this theory is
known as theory Russian formalism, which is later gave birth to the theory of Structuralism and
the variety (pasaca structuralism) such as semiotic, genetic structuralism and yang other.

As has been said Previously, this theory only assessed the work literature in terms of its
intrinsic (independent, autonomous as literary works) not from the extrinsic side (social culture
3
http://www.teraslampung.com/2014/03/mengenal - teori - sastra – formalisme - rusia.

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work about or author). So, with that a literary researcher does not depending on the outer aspects
of a work literature. Which then research works literature is also positivistic, because based on
the text can be proven empirical because it refers directly to the text literature being researched.

Based on the theory of Russian formalism, is an autonomous work that must be

researched of the work itself (its intrinsicality), not from the outside (extrinsicality). This is
because the theory is over emphasize the beauty aspect. Therefore, which is necessary in the
process of deep literary criticism formalism theory is close reading, microscopic reading of the
work satra as a beautiful language. According to formalism theory, literary works have
experience defamiliarization and deotonomization. Literature has a strange nature or foreign,
because literature is the result juggling (creative process) author, where in it is the aesthetic of
form (language), and is the result of exploitation taste, imagination, and logic are on there is also
an aesthetic meaning. Literature, therefore, is seen by the flow of criticism formalists then lose
autonomy to immediately get the reader understands. Reader or researcher, for that, it is
permissible to make interpretation by uncovering secrets the aesthetics and ideas behind the text.

With the autonomous nature of literary works as one of the characteristics of formalism
theory, a literary researcher does not depending on aspects outside the literary work and literary
research becomes positivistic. The reason is, because of research which is done based on the text
can proved empirically by referring back to the literary text under study. Text literature also
becomes comparable to social behavior, be it political, economic, as well as other social attitudes
that become empirical reference to political science, economics, dan sociology.

B. Concepts of Russian formalism about Poetry

1. Concepts of Russian formalism about Poetry
Early Formals tends to identify "Literature" with poetry. Poetry seen by the Formals as
the essential use of literary language. Their definition of poetry is "The composition of the
speech into it netted the overall sound texture ”. Factor the most important poetry builder is
a rhythm.
2. Concepts of Russian formalism about Prose

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 Formalist definition of literature is the definition of that based on the nature of the
difference or contradiction. The elements that make up literature is only the difference with
another rule of fact. according to Victor Sklovskij, literature has ability to show reality in a
new way, so that automatic properties under observation and the application of the reader is
broken, with language means. Literature is usage typical language that reaches manifested
by deviation and distortion from "practical" language.
In essence a trait distinguishing genres is not a stylistic trait, but rather a trait controversy
that fostered that genre concerned as literature. Character the contradiction that lies in prose
is between the fabula element and the sjuzet element. Fabula refers to the sequence of
events according to mass order, while sjuzet according to the order and manner of events
actually presented in the story. Sjuzet embodies the impression of defamiliarization against
Fabula, because the typical Sjuzet style cirri is not created as a tool for deliver fabula.
3. Facts as the Foundation for Fabula
The most important concept of the formalists states that that literature defines reality
as well defamilirize literature itself, as stated by Selden (1991; 10-11).
Starting from that view can further traceable that sjuzet on the basis can be
defamiliarization of the facts on which the fabula is based. As described above, according to
the Russian Formalization sjuzet in in prose literature basically is a defamiliarization of the
fabula. Fabula as a “story” that is familiarized in in sjuzet of course it can "appear" not
suddenly. But caused by this particular thing. One of the things you can to be the cause of
the appearance of the fabula is events that occur in life everyday (facts). That means that
fact can be the basis for arising fabula.
4. Defamiliarization
It can be seen that the concept regarding the process of materializing literary works
which is the difference or conflict with objective reality called defamiliarization
(strangulation, salting) or the process of making something it is extraordinary (ostranenie).
Defamiliarization itself manifests within literary text in the form of a sjuzet. Meanwhile,
according to Victor Sklovskij in question sjuzet is not only an arrangement of events in the
story, but also all of them The "means" used to interrupt and postpone the storytelling, be
graded, typographic games, transfer of parts of the book (kata introduction, offerings, and so
on), as well as those shown for draws the reader's attention to prose meant.Thus it can

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 concluded that basically that sjuzet contains all the storytelling techniques is the
embodiment of the concept demafiliarization.
Thus it can be known that storytelling technique plays an important role in the process
of defamiliarization of deep facts fiction (prose). Author's success composing prose
determined by his ability to choose and use varied storytelling techniques interesting to
study.

C. Figures of formalism
1. Western formalism
a. Victor Sjklovski
Victor Sjklovski noted that, literary nature arises as a result preparation and
composition of materials was originally neutral. The authors juggle texts with effects
isolate and release it from automation. The juggling process by this author is called
defamiliarization, that is technique makes text weird and foreign or stylized storytelling
techniques language that stands out and is distorted than usual. In the process of
enjoyment or reader perception, effect de-automation is perceived as something which is
strange or defamiliar. Process the defamiliarization changes the response us to the world.
With technique revelation, readers can research and understand the means (language)
used by the author. Techniques such as delaying, insert, slow down, extend, or stalling a
tale so attract attention because it can't responded automatically.
b. Boris Eichenbaum
Boris Eichenbaum affirms, the formalists are united by being the idea of freeing
poetic diction from the restraint of intellectualism and
moralism that strives for and becomes the obsession of the symbolists. They are trying
to refute aesthetic principles subjective supported by the symbolists (which relies on his
theories).
c. Boris Tomashevsky
Boris Tomashevsky mentions motives as the smallest groove unit. Generally,
motif means a meaningful element and which is repeated in one or a number of works.
In one work, motive is the smallest meaning element in in the story. Understanding the
motive here obtain a syntactic function distinguish motives tied to motives free. A bound

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 motive is a motive really needed by the story, while free motive is an aspect which is not
essential from an angle story view. Despite this, motive potentially free is focus on art
because it provides opportunities to the author to insert artistic elements into the whole
flow.4

D. Sample Analysis
Analysis of Western Formalism "Dewa Telah Mati ”5
By: Subagio Sastrowardojo (Simponi, 1975: 9)
Tak ada dewa di rawa-rawa ini
Hanya gagak yang mengakak malam hari
Dan siang terbang mengitari bangkai
Pertapa yang terbunuh dekat kuil
Dewa telah mati di tepi-tepi ini
Hanya ular yang mendesir dekat sumber
Lalu minum dari mulut pelacur
Yang tersenyum dengan bayang sendiri
Bumi ini perempuan jalang
Yang menarik laki-laki jantan dan pertapa
Ke rawa-rawa mesum ini
Dan membunuhnya di pagi hari
a. Themes, in a society the inhabitants had forgotten God, God as it was long absence,
considered dead world, then there is only evil deeds, lewd, and sins that continue to
be committed by its citizens.
b. Settings, as for time settings explicitly is on morning and evening, while the setting of
the place takes place in an existing swamp the temple.
c. Grooves, plots used the author of the poem using an advanced progressive groove
continues, chained from the start story to completion.

4
http://arwinkim.blogspot.com/2010/05/pengertianteori- formalisme.html
5
Dikutip dari: Jabrohim (ed.) dkk, 2003, Metodologi Penelitian Sastra, Yogyakarta: Hanindita Press, Cet. Ketiga,
hal. 95

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d. Language style, poetry writer use irony to express disappointment himself to society
which started to shift confidence them against a God immortal only because of being
seduced by the seduction of the deceptive world and is temporary.

CHAPTER III

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 CONCLUSION

A. Conclusion
The theory of formalism is wrong one caste theory whose scope includes the
literary work itself as well as elements intrinsic who built it. Room the scope is then
analyzed by using literature devices to find out the plot / plot. In terms of it analyzes the
components linguistics available in the language (phonetic, morpheme, syntax, or
semantics, so it is with rhythm, rhyme, dimension, acoustic / sound, alliteration,
assonance, etc.) as long as it is deep literary works as a means to achieve its "artistic"
goals is a taste of a work literature.
B. Suggestion
As a recommendation from the author, from because this paper is far from
perfection, much remains to be done repaired and equipped with data and analysis here
and there, to anyone parties who are willing to fix it (After much deliberation of course),
would like to straighten out, the rest we apologize for profusely and thank you.

REFERENCES

13
http://arwinkim.blogspot.co.id/2010/05/pengertianteori- formalisme.html

Panuti Sudjiman, 1990, Kamus Istilah Sastra, Jakarta: UI Press, hal. 31.

http://www.teraslampung.com/2014/03/mengenal - teori - sastra – formalisme - rusia.

http://arwinkim.blogspot.com/2010/05/pengertianteori- formalisme.html

Dikutip dari: Jabrohim (ed.) dkk, 2003, Metodologi Penelitian Sastra, Yogyakarta: Hanindita
Press, Cet. Ketiga, hal. 95

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