Randall Jarrell quotes
Randall Jarrell was an American poet, literary critic, and novelist known for his insightful and moving works. His poetry often explored themes of childhood, war, and the inner struggles of ordinary people. He influenced generations of writers with his keen critical voice and poignant verse. Here are 212 of his quotes:
"Modern” poetry is, essentially, an extension of romanticism; it is what romantic poetry wishes or finds it necessary to become. It is the end product of romanticism, all past and no future; it is impossible to go further by any extrapolation of the process by which we have arrived, and certainly it is impossible to remain where we are-who could endure a century of transition?
Randall Jarrell
A successful poem says what a poet wants to say, and more, with particular finality. The remarks he makes about his poems are incidental when the poem is good, or embarrassing or absurd when it is bad - and he is not permitted to say how the good poem is good, and may never know how the bad poem is bad. It is better to write about other people's poetry.
Randall Jarrell
I think Miss Moore was right to cut "The Steeple-Jack” - the poem seems plainer and clearer in its shortened state - but she has cut too much... The reader may feel like saying, "Let her do as she pleases with the poem; it's hers, isn't it?” No; it's much too good a poem for that, it long ago became everybody's, and we can protest just as we could if Donatello cut off David's left leg.
Randall Jarrell
Goethe said that the worst thing in art is technical facility accompanied by triteness. Many an artist, like God, has never needed to think twice about anything. His works are the mad scene from Giselle, on ice skates: he weeps, pulls out his hair-holding his wrists like Lifar-and tells you what Life is, all at a gliding forty miles an hour.
Randall Jarrell
Randall Jarrell
Occupation: American Critic
Born: May 6, 1914
Died: October 14, 1965
Quotes count: 212
Wikipedia: Randall Jarrell
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