Quote by C.S. Lewis

Nearly all our older poetry was written and read by men to whom the distinction between poetry and rhetoric, in its modern form, would have been meaningless. The 'beauties' which they chiefly regarded in every composition were those which we either dislike or simply do not notice.This change of taste makes an invisible wall between us and them.

Nearly all our older poetry was written and read by men to w

Summary

This quote suggests that there has been a significant shift in taste and understanding of poetry over time. In the past, poetry and rhetoric were not separate concepts as they are seen in modern times. Older poets and readers focused on different aspects of poetry that may be overlooked or less appreciated by contemporary audiences. This difference in appreciation creates a barrier or divide between our understanding of poetry and that of the past, making it difficult for us to fully comprehend and appreciate their works.

Topics

Literary Criticism

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