Atmosphere Quote by Randall Jarrell
“Underneath all his writing there is the settled determination to use certain words, to take certain attitudes, to produce a certain atmosphere; what he is seeing or thinking or feeling has hardly any influence on the way he writes. The reader can reply, ironically, "That's what it means to have a style"; but few people have so much of one, or one so obdurate that you can say of it, "It is a style that no subject can change.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Art of Fiction", 1955
A writer's style can dominate content, making personal feelings secondary to a fixed atmospheric voice.
In simple terms: Style can overpower content, making personal feelings secondary.
Key Takeaway
Beware of letting style dictate meaning.
Themes
writing
style
authorial voice
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- journalism
- academic essays
Key Concepts
creative control
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a rigid style stifle truth?
- How to balance style with substance?
A Different Perspective
Style may limit authentic expression.
![“Early in his life Mr. [Ezra] Pound met with strong, continued, and unintelligent opposition. If people keep opposing you when you are right, you think them fools; and after a time, right or wrong, you think them fools simply because they oppose you. Similarly, you write true things or good things…” quote by Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a7/randall-jarrell-3811_ends_early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with_359433.jpg)
