Auras Quote by Willa Cather
“Whatever is felt upon the page without being specifically named there - that, one might say, is created. It is the inexplicable presence of the thing not named, of the overtone divined by the ear but not heard by it, the verbal mood, the emotional aura of the fact or the thing or the deed, that gives high quality to the novel or the drama, as well as to poetry itself.”
About This Quote
Unnamed elements in a work create an undercurrent that enriches its emotional depth and quality.
In simple terms: Unspoken aspects give a work its emotional depth.
Pay attention to what is left unsaid.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- reading novels
- writing poetry
- film analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the silence in a text suggest?
- How does omission shape meaning?
Overemphasis on subtext can obscure clarity.