Books Quote by A. E. Housman
“I think that to transfuse emotion - not to transmit thought but to set up in the reader's sense a vibration corresponding to what was felt by the writer - is the peculiar function of poetry.”
About This Quote
Poetry aims to evoke the writer’s emotional state in the reader, creating a shared feeling rather than merely delivering ideas.
In simple terms: Poetry transmits feeling, not thought.
Key Takeaway
Emotion is poetry’s core purpose.
Themes
Emotion
Empathy
Artistic expression
Subjectivity
Communication
Mood
Reflective
Intimate
Contemplative
Type
Philosophical
Literary
When to use this quote
- Literary analysis
- Creative writing workshops
- Therapeutic reading
- Teaching poetry
- Personal reflection
Key Concepts
Vibration metaphor
Reader-writer resonance
Poetic function
Practical Applications
- Designing curricula that emphasize affective response
- Developing AI tools that gauge emotional impact of text
Questions to Reflect On
- How does feeling differ from intellectual understanding in literature?
- What techniques help a writer transmit emotion effectively?
