Poetry quote by T. S. Eliot

Mobile Desktop
Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood
Like

"Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood"

- T. S. Eliot

About this Quote

The quote "Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood" by T. S. Eliot speaks with the profound and frequently mystical nature of poetry and its unique capability to convey meaning and feeling beyond mere words. It suggests that the impact of poetry isn't solely based on the reader's intellectual understanding however rather on a more instant, visceral connection.

To unpack this concept, consider how art in general functions. Music is an art type that frequently interacts feeling and environment without the requirement for words. Likewise, poetry has the capability to stimulate feelings, senses, or state of minds that resonate with the reader or listener even before the actual meaning is analyzed. The rhythm, the noise of the words, the visual images they develop, and the feelings they evoke can touch the reader deeply and immediately.

Eliot's assertion suggests that genuine poetry transcends the limits of language. Words arranged in a poetic type can create an atmosphere or provoke a psychological action based upon their associations and musicality. This instant connection may exist on subconscious levels, informed by individual experiences, the cultural backdrop, or universal human feelings. The capability to feel the essence of a poem without comprehending every subtlety of its language underlines the universality of poetry.

Moreover, poetry often deals with styles of intricacy and ambiguity, intentionally inviting numerous analyses that can change gradually with ongoing reflection and life experiences. This does not lessen its ease of access; rather, it enhances it, allowing various layers of understanding to unfold. In this method, Eliot highlights that the power of poetry lies not in accuracy or direct analysis, but in its capability to resonate on different levels, striking chords that the reader may not instantly articulate or purposely understand.

In summary, T. S. Eliot elevates the status of poetry to that of an instinctive art kind, one that can touch hearts and minds right away and intimately, guaranteeing a richness of experience beyond sensible comprehension.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by T. S. Eliot between September 26, 1888 and January 4, 1965. He/she was a famous Poet from USA, the quote is categorized under the topic Poetry. The author also have 55 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: It is the timber of poetry that wears most surely, and there is no timber that has not strong roots among the
"It is the timber of poetry that wears most surely, and there is no timber that has not strong roots among the clay and worms"
John Millington Synge, Poet
Small: Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas - Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
"Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas"
Albert Einstein, Physicist
Small: Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance - Carl Sandburg
"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance"
Carl Sandburg, Poet
Small: We dont attempt to have any theme for a number of the anthology, or to have any particular sequence. We just p
"We don't attempt to have any theme for a number of the anthology, or to have any particular sequence. We just put in things that we like, and then we try to alternate the prose and the poetry"
James Laughlin, Poet
Small: Poetry is of so subtle a spirit, that in the pouring out of one language into another it will evaporate - John
"Poetry is of so subtle a spirit, that in the pouring out of one language into another it will evaporate"
John Denham, Politician
Small: Concrete poets continue to turn out beautiful things, but to me theyre more visual than oral, and they almost
"Concrete poets continue to turn out beautiful things, but to me they're more visual than oral, and they almost really belong on the wall rather than in a book. I haven't the least idea of where poetry is going"
James Laughlin, Poet
Small: Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully on canvas or write wonderful poetry. I like making deals
"Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully on canvas or write wonderful poetry. I like making deals, preferably big deals. That's how I get my kicks"
Edward Koch, Politician
Small: I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation - Anthony Hope
Anthony Hope
"I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation"
Anthony Hope, Writer
Small: Personality is everything in art and poetry - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
"Personality is everything in art and poetry"
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, Writer
Small: Yet, it is true, poetry is delicious the best prose is that which is most full of poetry - Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf
"Yet, it is true, poetry is delicious; the best prose is that which is most full of poetry"
Virginia Woolf, Author