OPOYAZ, or the Society for the Study of Poetic Language, was a literary group formed in Russia during the early 20th century. It emerged in 1916 and was associated with the Russian Formalism movement, which focused on the structure and function of literature rather than its content or historical context. The members of OPOYAZ aimed to analyze the artistic aspects of language and literature, emphasizing the importance of form in understanding poetry and prose. Key figures included Viktor Shklovsky and Boris Eikhenbaum, who contributed significantly to literary theory and criticism through their innovative ideas and writings.