“There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into unity; and that is, an ability to see in particular human experience some significant symbolism of man's general destiny.” MenHumansStuffAbilityDestinyOne ThingParticularMaterialsMastersUnitySignificantEpicHuman ExperienceSymbolismAbility To SeePerplexed Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“Epic poetry exhibits life in some great symbolic attitude. It cannot strictly be said to symbolize life itself, but always some manner of life.” SaidAttitudeEpicSymbolicExhibitsEpic Poetry Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“If epic poetry is a definite species, the sagas do not fall within it.” IfsFallSpeciesPoetry IsEpicDefiniteSagaEpic PoetryEpic Poems Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“That is to say, epic poetry has been invented many times and independently; but, as the needs which prompted the invention have been broadly similar, so the invention itself has been.” NeedsHas BeensInventionEpicEpic Poetry Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“The epic poet collaborates with the spirit of his time in the composition of his work. That is, if he is successful; the time may refuse to work with him, but he may not refuse to work with his time.” IfsMaySpiritSuccessfulPoetRefuseCompositionEpic Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“The epic poet has behind him a tradition of matter and a tradition of style; and that is what every other poet has behind him too; only, for the epic poet, tradition is rather narrower, rather more strictly compelling.” MatterBehindsStylePoetTraditionCompellingEpic Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“The first epics were intended for recitation; the literary epic is meant to be read.” FirstsMeant To BeEpicRecitation Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“The world knows of a vast stock of epic material scattered up and down the nations; sometimes its artistic value is as extraordinary as its archaeological interest, but not always.” KnowsWorldSometimesValuesNationsInterestMaterialsExtraordinaryArtisticEpicUp And Down Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
“With several different kinds of poetry to choose from, a man would decide that he would like best to be an epic poet, and he would set out, in conscious determination, on an epic poem.” MenKindDifferentPoetConsciousDeterminationDifferent KindsEpicEpic Poems Author:Lascelles Abercrombie
