Formalist theory focuses on a work's or a poem's
literariness; what makes it different from everyday speech. Formalists want to
distinguish literature/poetry from everyday language. Formalists do not see literature
as an exact reflection of reality, but an artistic interpretation of reality. Since
formalists focus so closely on text and form, they attempt to ignore or put aside
cultural and historical implications. This method has its proponents and opponents.
Opponents claim you cannot separate art from history, but most do not dismiss formalism
as a valid literary practice; they just think it should be complemented with cultural,
historical, feminist, etc. interpretations.
A formalist
analysis would look at the line breaks, the grammar, the word choices and the themes as
the poem exists as autonomous; sort of outside history. Generally, the poem is about the
young girl inside the poet who refuses to die; so it is about keeping a young
perspective even into old age despite. Formalism does focus on themes but moreso on the
actual literariness of poems. So, what about the poem makes it a poem? What makes this
poetry different from everyday speech? What makes it an unfamiliar way to speak? One
thing is the pun with ‘thyme’ where the narrator will blossom into thyme meaning
something new (blossoming into; second coming) and blossoming into ‘time’ as growing
into the world of linear time.
The comparison between the
narrator and the tree, as well as the woods with other people, is an example of
personification or anthropomorphism. It shows a comparison/analogy between humanity and
nature.
‘Green’ can mean natural, young but also naïve, or
new. A formalist analysis would look at literariness and that means finding the
different possible meanings; as authorial intent or reader interpretation. Puns,
metaphors, synecdoche, metonymy are all elements to be aware of with formalist
analysis.
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