Gogol's The Portrait, is a short story which examined through a formalistic approach, can be understood beyond its

obvious storyline and plot. Formalism is the literary theory that literature is not simply a mass of words, but

comprised of individual words that each may possess a social stereotype, a spiritual aspect or convey a physical

response in the reader. Formalism asserts that the world is full of codes that need to be decoded. By investigating

these codes, one can understand the world or in this scenario, the literary message better. These codes in

literature, must appear as defamiliarzied or distorted in literature. Everyday aspects of life outside of their average

element, still maintain their same definition but bring that very definition to a different context, thus enabling one to

see that original definition in a new light and indeed, apply it to elucidate other situations similar or completely

dislike to the primary one. The Portrait can be completely and logically dissected by formalistic methods. I will

concentrate on Part I of this short story (solely concerning Chartkov), to produce a more concentrated and concise

the mother of the girl approves of and one of an altered picture of psyche. The mother discovers the psyche version

do I trouble myself and burden myself like a student learning his (his professor's) ABC's when I might be no less

for themselves. therefore it is not surprising that by 1930, the formalist writer's were silenced since it easier to

choice of the author for a poor character, resulting in sympathetic emotions is a purposeful one, from a formalist

purchasing of the portrait. Chartkov has a series of dreams in which he repeatedly wakes up, tries too discern if he

implications created by the semi-exposition itself. Indeed, this portrait and namely its eyes, develops into the

Thereby, in making these familiar images seem strange, the reader perceives it in an entirely new way. A formalist

dominate a people who do not think for themselves but instead absorb propaganda.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Gogol's Portrait, Brothers Karamazov, dynamic motif, compositional motivation, portrait chartkov, direct characterization, tool educate masses, recurrent throughout story, indirect characterization, dynamic motif story, recurrent throughout, concerning chartkov, motif story, throughout story, dream sequence,
Approximate Word count = 1845
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)