Long novels written today are perhaps a contradiction: the…
““Long novels written today are perhaps a contradiction: the dimension of time has been shattered, we cannot love or think except in fragments of time each of which goes off along its own trajectory and immediately disappears. We can rediscover the continuity of time only in the novels of that period when time no longer seemed stopped and did not yet seem to have exploded, a period that lasted no more than a hundred years.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He suggests modern novels fragment time, losing continuity, which earlier works preserved before the perception of time fractured.
In simple terms: Modern novels break time into fragments, unlike earlier continuous narratives.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the impact of narrative structure on perception of time.
Themes
literature
time perception
modernism
Mood
analytical
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- literary criticism
- reading groups
Key Concepts
narrative fragmentation
chronology
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- How does narrative structure shape our experience of time?
- Can modern literature regain a sense of continuity?
A Different Perspective
Some readers may find fragmented narratives confusing or disengaging.