Nature Quote by David Lodge
““In fiction, especially in texts that are framed by a storytelling situation, aporia is a favourite device of narrators to arouse curiosity in their audience, or to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the story they are telling. It is often combined with another figure of rhetoric, "aposiopesis", the incomplete sentence or unfinished utterance, usually indicated on the page by a trail of dots...””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Fiction, 1992
Narrators use aporia and aposiopesis to spark curiosity and highlight the story’s uniqueness, often ending with ellipsis.
In simple terms: These devices create mystery and emphasis in storytelling.
Key Takeaway
Use pauses and unfinished thoughts to engage readers.
Themes
storytelling
curiosity
rhetoric
literary techniques
Mood
intriguing
thoughtful
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- lecture on literature
- creative workshops
- editing drafts
Key Concepts
aporia
aposiopesis
ellipsis
narrative tension
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance mystery with clarity?
- When should you leave a thought unfinished?
A Different Perspective
Overuse can frustrate readers or obscure meaning.
![“APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.[ from after, and rixp to be silent.] A form of speech, by which the speaker, through some affection, as sorrow, bashfulness, fear, anger, or vehemency, breaks off his speech before it be all ended. A figure, when, speaking of a thing, we yet seem to conceal it…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.jpg)
