Writing Quote by Anonymous
““I hear echoes in your prose, echoes that run back to stuffy English drawing rooms and American universities. Is that what Canadians aspire to sound like?" She had taken a cigarette without appearing to watch what she was doing, and lighted it from a box of kitchen matches. I needed a cigarette myself, but was too wrapped up in what was being said to me to attempt to smoke. Gertrude blew a large smoke ring across the gap between us and watched it drift towards the ceiling.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, 2000
The narrator critiques a Canadian writer’s imitation of British and American literary styles, suggesting a loss of authentic voice.
In simple terms: Copying foreign styles can erase genuine cultural expression.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic, local expression.
Themes
literature
identity
culture
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literary criticism
- creative writing classes
Key Concepts
postcolonialism
authenticity
voice
Questions to Reflect On
- How does cultural context shape literary voice?
- What risks arise when writers mimic foreign styles?
A Different Perspective
Imitation may limit originality and resonance.
