"The poet gives us his essence, but prose takes the mold of the body and mind"
- Virginia Woolf
About this Quote
This quote by Virginia Woolf talks to the differences between poetry and prose. Woolf suggests that poetry is a more abstract kind of expression, permitting the poet to communicate their essence, or the core of their being. Prose, on the other hand, is more concrete and tangible, taking the form of the body and mind. This suggests that prose is more grounded in reality, while poetry is more abstract and available to analysis. Woolf's quote highlights the special qualities of both poetry and prose, and how they can be utilized to reveal different elements of the human experience. By comparing the two kinds of composing, Woolf emphasizes the significance of both in communicating the intricacies of life.
"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"
"I think Maus I is better than Maus II. The standard here is whether or not it's as good as a great book of prose literature and by that standard, no, it's not that great"
