The cliché is dead poetry. English, being the language of…
“The cliché is dead poetry. English, being the language of an imaginative race, abounds in clichés, so that English literature is always in danger of being poisoned by its own secretions.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Clichés in English are abundant, making literature vulnerable to overused expressions that dilute originality.
In simple terms: English clichés threaten literary freshness.
Beware of overused phrases.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing
- editing
- teaching literature
- reading criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you spot clichés in your writing?
- When might a cliché be useful?
Clichés can also convey cultural familiarity.