"Knowing some Greek helped defuse forbidding words - not that I counted much on using them. You'll find only trace elements of this language in the poem"
- James Merrill
About this Quote
This quote by James Merrill is describing making use of Greek words in his poem. He is stating that understanding some Greek helped him to comprehend and utilize words that might have otherwise been too difficult or intimidating. He acknowledges that he did not rely greatly on utilizing Greek words in his poem, but that there are still some micronutrient of the language present. This quote is a testament to the power of language and how it can be utilized to create something beautiful and significant. It also speaks with the significance of knowing and comprehending different languages, as it can open up a world of possibilities. Knowing Greek permitted Merrill to reveal himself in a manner that he might not have actually been able to do otherwise.
This quote is written / told by James Merrill between March 3, 1926 and February 6, 1995. He/she was a famous Poet from USA.
The author also have 10 other quotes.
"With the question of the effect of a poem, the topic of investigation shifts from that of textual autonomy to textual reception - to the issue of what we actually look for or find in reading a poem"
"The heart of the matter seems to me to be the direct interaction between one's making a poem in English and a poem in the language that one understands and values. I don't see how you can do it otherwise"
"A revolutionary poem will not tell you who or when to kill, what and when to burn, or even how to theorize. It reminds you... where and when and how you are living and might live, it is a wick of desire"
