"The poetic act consists of suddenly seeing that an idea splits up into a number of equal motifs and of grouping them; they rhyme"
- Stephane Mallarme
About this Quote
This quote by Stephane Mallarme speaks to the creative procedure of writing poetry. He suggests that the poetic act is a moment of insight, when a concept is all of a sudden seen to be made up of multiple concepts that can be grouped together. This insight is additional emphasized by the concept of rhyme, which suggests that the concepts are equivalent and can be arranged in such a way that produces a harmonious and pleasing effect. Mallarme's quote talks to the power of the innovative process, and how it can be used to develop something lovely and meaningful. It also speaks with the importance of comprehending the structure of a poem, and how the arrangement of motifs can be utilized to develop a powerful and significant effect. By comprehending the structure of a poem, a poet can create something that is both aesthetically pleasing and meaningful.
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