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I can hear the library humming in the night, a choir of…

“I can hear the library humming in the night, a choir of authors murmuring inside their books along the unlit, alphabetical shelves, Giovanni Pontano next to Pope, Dumas next to his son, each one stitched into his own private coat, together forming a low, gigantic chord of language.” quote by Billy Collins
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“I can hear the library humming in the night, a choir of authors murmuring inside their books along the unlit, alphabetical shelves, Giovanni Pontano next to Pope, Dumas next to his son, each one stitched into his own private coat, together forming a low, gigantic chord of language.”

Billy Collins

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote paints a vivid image of a library as a living, resonant organism where each author contributes to a collective harmony of language.

In simple terms: Libraries are alive with the voices of many writers.

Key Takeaway

Listen to the chorus of literature.

Themes

literature creativity collective knowledge

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

poetic descriptive

When to use this quote

  • reading
  • research
  • creative writing
  • academic study

Key Concepts

intertextuality metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this image change your view of reading?
  • What does the 'gigantic chord' suggest about language?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize libraries, overlooking practical challenges.

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