For more than half a century I have tried to confront…
““For more than half a century I have tried to confront greatness directly, hardly a fashionable stance, but I see no other justification for literary criticism in the shadows of our Evening Land. Over time the strong poets settle these matters for themselves, and precursors remain alive in their progeny. Readers in our flooded landscape use their own perceptiveness. But an advance can be of some help. If you believe that the canon in time will select itself, you still can follow a critical impulse to hasten the process, as I did with the later Stevens, Ashbury, and, more recently, Henri Cole.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Bloom argues that critics should actively shape literary can rather than wait for it to emerge naturally.
In simple terms: Critics must guide which works become classics.
Key Takeaway
Engage critically to influence cultural memory.
Themes
literary criticism
canon formation
cultural memory
authorial legacy
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- University literature courses
- book clubs
- publishing decisions
- academic conferences
Key Concepts
Aesthetic judgment
historical influence
critical agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which works deserve preservation?
- What risks arise from a critic’s personal bias?
A Different Perspective
Active shaping may marginalize unconventional voices.