Analysis and Examination of Formalist Criticism Components in the Works of Seyed Ali Salehi

Abstract

Formalist criticism is a text-centered approach in literary critique that prioritizes the examination of the form and structure of a literary work. A formalist critic does not seek to understand "what" a poet or writer intends to say in their literary creation but rather "how" they express their intended meaning. Through an analysis of the structure of a text, formalists aim to uncover its hidden meanings and deeper concepts. Seyed Ali Salehi is one of the prominent contemporary poets who, despite his significant contributions to modern Persian poetry, has not received substantial academic attention from Persian language and literature researchers. He was the founder of the Wave of Purity poetic movement, which, although short-lived, left a profound impact on poets following the Nimaic style. Salehi also pioneered the Spoken Poetry movement, a literary trend that, for nearly two decades, has influenced the way most contemporary poets structure their poetry. A considerable portion of Seyed Ali Salehi's poetry exhibits a strong presence of norm-breaking techniques and formalist elements. This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of these aspects. His poetry is marked by various forms of linguistic deviation, novel expressions, and innovative imagery that enhance the richness of his poetic language. Research indicates that among all types of norm deviation, semantic and phonological deviations are the most prevalent in his works.