Archaic Quote by Margaret Atwood
““The poems that used to entrance me in the days of Miss Violence now struck me as overdone and sickly. Alas, burthen, thine, cometh, aweary —the archaic language of unrequited love. I was irritated with such words, which rendered the unhappy lovers—I could now see—faintly ridiculous, like poor moping Miss Violence herself. Soft-edged, blurry, soggy, like a bun fallen into the water. Nothing you'd want to touch,””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, 2019
The speaker finds once‑loved romantic poetry now stale, overly sentimental, and absurd, reflecting a loss of enchantment and a critique of clichéd love language.
In simple terms: Old love poems feel stale and ridiculous now.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when art loses its impact.
Themes
disillusionment
art criticism
romanticism
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- reading poetry
- writing critique
- teaching literature
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cliché
sentimentality
aesthetic fatigue
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a poem timeless?
- How do personal experiences reshape our taste?
A Different Perspective
Even dismissed works can still hold personal meaning for some readers.
