Formalist Criticism Quiz

Why does Formalist Criticism consider the text “autonomous”?

• Because the text depends on the author’s experiences

• Because the text changes meaning depending on the reader

• Because the text stands on its own, independent from outside factors

• Because the text is influenced by society and culture

How does Formalist Criticism differ from the biographical or historical approach?

• It focuses on how the author’s life shaped the story

• It studies the text based on historical background

• It focuses only on the text’s form, structure, and language

• It compares the text to other works from the same era

In Formalist Criticism, what is meant by “close reading,” and why is it important?

• It means memorizing the author’s background to understand the text

• It means analyzing how literary devices create meaning within the text

• It means comparing the text to other genres or authors

• It means reading the text with personal emotions and opinions

Why do Formalist critics believe that great works are “timeless and universal”?

• Because they are based on cultural beliefs that last forever

• Because their form and structure allow them to be understood across time and cultures

• Because they reflect the author’s emotions and personal experiences

• Because readers can relate to them emotionally

A poem describes a storm using vivid imagery and contrast between calm and chaos. As a Formalist, what would be your main focus when analyzing it?

• How the author’s life inspired the storm imagery

• How the poem’s imagery and structure create meaning and unity

• How readers personally feel about storms

• How storms were viewed in the time period of the poem