Poets in our civilization, as it exists at present, must…
“Poets in our civilization, as it exists at present, must be difficult...The poet must become more and more comprehensive, more allusive, more indirect, in order to force, to dislocate if necessary, language into its meaning.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Poets must expand their language, using indirect and allusive techniques to reveal deeper meanings.
In simple terms: Poets need to be indirect to make language mean more.
Embrace complexity in expression.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing poetry
- literary criticism
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does indirectness affect reader engagement?
- When is clarity more valuable than allusion?
Complexity can alienate readers.