A Formalistic and Pre-formalistic Study of the Plot Element in the Short Story Collection of Somnath's Divan

From the formalistic and Pre-formalistic perspective, this paper examines the plot elements in Abutorab Khosravi’s Somnath's Divan. The distinctive features of the approaches between the storyline and plot manifest the disparity in their application. Utilization of clichés plot, consideration of curiosity and uncovered suspension, and disproportion in cause and effect networks are noteworthy features of Formalistic criticism. Besides, use of minute descriptions including point of view which manifests sub-plots of time and place, and use of nonlinear account based on frequent flashbacks are among the merits of the stories. But in Formalistic plot, for defamiliarizing, the author employs a variety of artistic techniques such as recourse to some post-modern elements, novelistic techniques dialogues, repeated use of circular forms, and estrangement of the ambiance of the story through the use of religious customs and Iranian miniature art. On the whole, the author is successful in only those stories that are built upon a formalist plot and defamliarization technique, and not in those with cause and effect criteria.