Poetry Quote by Lars Gustafsson
““If we leave that general descriptive talk where everything which looks like a poem can be called a poem and turn instead to normative talk, we will of course not recognize as a poem everything that looks like a poem. A real poem has to be a successful poem, a successful speech act. In approximately the same way that only a mathematical proof which really proves something can be called a mathematical proof. It is not enough that it looks like a proof. The proof has to prove. For the poem it is not enough to look like a poem. It has to achieve something.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Philosophy of Language, University of Gothenburg, 2015
A poem must do more than resemble poetry; it must function as a successful speech act that achieves a purpose, like a proof must actually prove.
In simple terms: Poems must accomplish something, not just look poetic.
Key Takeaway
Create work that fulfills its intended effect.
Themes
art
communication
purpose
evaluation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- creative writing workshops
- academic seminars
- publishing
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
speech act
aesthetic theory
normative standards
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria determine a poem’s success?
- How do we balance form and function?
A Different Perspective
A poem’s impact can be subjective, making success hard to measure.
