A foot usually consists of one stressed and one or two unstressed syllables. See also iambic pentameter, line, meter. Foreshadowing The introduction early in a story of verbal and dramatic hints that suggest what is to come later. Form The overall structure or shape of a work, which frequently follows an established design. See also fixed form, open form.
Formal diction See diction.
An approach to literature that focuses on the formal elements of a work, such as its language, structure, and tone. Formalist critics offer intense examinations of the relationship between form and meaning in a work, emphasizing the subtle complexity in how a work is arranged. Formalists pay special attention to diction, irony, paradox, metaphor, and symbol, as well as larger elements such as plot, characterization, and narrative technique. Formalist critics read literature as an independent work of art rather than as a reflection of the author's state of mind or as a representation of a moment in history. Therefore, anything outside of the work, including historical influences and authorial intent, is generally not examined by formalist critics.