Accidents Quote by Anonymous
“The novel is a formidable mass, and it is so amorphous - no mountain in it to climb, no Parnassus or Helicon, not even a Pisgah. It is most distinctly one of the moister areas of literature - irrigated by a hundred rills and occasionally degenerating into a swamp. I do not wonder that the poets despise it, though they sometimes find themselves in it by accident. And I am not surprised at the annoyance of the historians when by accident it finds itself among them.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Literary Critique, unknown
The novel is a massive, shapeless mass, lacking clear peaks, resembling a swamp that poets sometimes despise.
In simple terms: Novels are vast and amorphous, often misunderstood.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate novel’s complexity.
Themes
literature
criticism
form
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
critical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic essay
- literary criticism
- creative writing
Key Concepts
structural analysis
genre study
poetic vs prose
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you navigate dense novels?
- What value lies in their amorphous nature?
A Different Perspective
Complexity can deter readers.
