Adolescent Quote by Donald Barthelme
“Faint equivalents can sometimes be found ... . Or it can be rendered obliquely-an adolescent's mental image of his or her parents making love, which must be something on the order of crocodiles mating.”
About This Quote
The passage uses vivid, absurd imagery to convey that some thoughts are difficult to articulate directly.
In simple terms: Strange images express hard‑to‑describe ideas.
Key Takeaway
Use metaphor to capture complex feelings.
Themes
absurdism
language
expression
Mood
confused
intrigued
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- therapy
- art critique
Key Concepts
literary technique
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the absurd image affect your understanding?
- Can a clearer analogy be used?
A Different Perspective
Metaphors can obscure meaning for some audiences.
