Add Quote by Walter Pater
“Poetry, at all times, exercises two distinct functions: it may reveal, it may unveil to every eye, the ideal aspects of common thingsor it may actually add to the number of motives poetic and uncommon in themselves, by the imaginative creation of things that are ideal from their very birth.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Nature of Poetry" by Walter Pater, 1873
Poetry serves both to uncover hidden truths in everyday objects and to create new, idealized visions through imagination.
In simple terms: Poetry reveals and creates ideal aspects of ordinary things.
Key Takeaway
Seek both insight and imagination in reading poetry.
Themes
art
imagination
perception
creation
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
analytical
creative
When to use this quote
- Literary analysis
- creative writing workshops
- teaching poetry
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Aesthetic theory
Romanticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does poetry change your view of the mundane?
- What new ideas can imagination generate from everyday life?
A Different Perspective
May overlook practical concerns when idealizing.
