Books Quote by Andrew Elfenbein
““... While much recent historicist criticism has assumed early nineteenth-century readers attuned to subtle ideological nuances in poetry, actual responses from readers often come closer to clulessness. ... It is no surprise that no one understood Blake, but other poets fared not much better. ... Coleridge's 'Christabel' was 'the standing enigma which puzzles the curiosity of literary circles. What is it all about?', while another reviewer asked about Shelley, 'What, in the name of wonder on one side, and of common sense on the other, is the meaning of this metaphysical rhapsody about the unbinding of Prometheus?'. Even Keats was condemned for 'his frequent obscurity and confusion of language' and his 'unintelligible quaintness'. Byron, never to be outdone, boasted in 'Don Juan' that not only did he not understand many of his fellow poets, he did not understand himself either: 'I don't pretend that I quite understand / My own meaning when I would be very fine.' ...””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Literary Criticism and Reader Response, 2020
Critics often claim readers grasp subtle poetic nuances, yet many find poems obscure and confusing, highlighting a gap between scholarly interpretation and popular reception.
In simple terms: Readers often find poetry confusing, contrary to scholarly claims.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that poetry may be intentionally ambiguous.
Themes
literary criticism
interpretation
reader response
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
academic
When to use this quote
- academic seminars
- book clubs
- teaching literature
- public lectures
Key Concepts
Hermeneutics
ambiguity
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- How does ambiguity affect a poem's impact?
- Should critics adapt explanations for broader audiences?
A Different Perspective
Scholars may overestimate readers' familiarity with historical literary trends.
![“... [In 'Pride and Prejudice'] Mr Collins's repulsiveness in his letter [about Lydia's elopement] does not exist only at the level of the sentence: it permeates all aspects of his rhetoric. Austen's point is that the well-formed sentence belongs to a self-enclosed mind, incapable of sympathetic…” quote by Andrew Elfenbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6cd/andrew-elfenbein-61722_closed-mind_in-pride-and-prejudice-mr-collins-s-repu_2489107.jpg)
