Ends Quote by John Berger
“It is not usually possible in a poem or a story to make the relationship between particular and universal fully explicit. Those who try to do so end up writing parables.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Ways of Seeing, 1972
Attempting to fully articulate the link between specific details and universal truths often results in allegorical storytelling.
In simple terms: Explicit links become allegories.
Use metaphor to convey universal ideas.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- teaching literature
- creative writing
- art criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do metaphors shape understanding?
- When is explicit detail preferable?
May limit literal interpretation.