--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the most puzzling things about a…" description: "\"One of the most puzzling things about a novel is that \"the way it really was\" half the time is, and half the time isn't, the way it ought to be in the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/randall-jarrell-3811_half_one-of-the-most-puzzling-things-about-a_2852853.png" --- # One of the most puzzling things about a novel is that "the… ![“One of the most puzzling things about a novel is that "the way it really was" half the time is, and half the time isn't, the way it ought to be in the novel.” quote by Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/randall-jarrell-3811_half_one-of-the-most-puzzling-things-about-a_2852853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/randall-jarrell-3811_half_one-of-the-most-puzzling-things-about-a_2852853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/randall-jarrell-3811_half_one-of-the-most-puzzling-things-about-a_2852853.png) > “One of the most puzzling things about a novel is that "the way it really was" half the time is, and half the time isn't, the way it ought to be in the novel.” [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novels often blur reality and idealism, creating tension between truth and expectation. **In simple terms:** Stories mix reality with ideal. Key Takeaway Recognize narrative tension. Themes literature truth idealism Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading - writing - critical analysis - teaching Key Concepts philosophy narrative theory Questions to Reflect On - How does this tension affect your reading? - Do you prefer realistic or idealistic narratives? A Different Perspective Readers may misinterpret authorial intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Puzzling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puzzling/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“He had made himself believe that he was going to get well, which was really more than half the battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/he-had-made-himself-believe-that-he-was-going-to-get-well-which-was/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [“And they were going to end up in bed. It was just a matter of finding the right time and a half hour of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helenkay-dimon/and-they-were-going-to-end-up-in-bed-it-was-just-a-matter-of-finding/) [HelenKay Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helenkay-dimon/) > [One easy mistake to make with the first novel is to expand the short story. 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If people keep opposing you when you are right, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with-strong-continued-and/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [Some of Mr. Gregory's poems have merely appeared in The New Yorker ; others are New Yorker poems: the inclusive topicality, the informed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/some-of-mr-gregory-s-poems-have-merely-appeared-in-the-new-yorker/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [A successful poem says what a poet wants to say, and more, with particular finality. 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