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#133293 09/22/04 05:19 PM
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Leafing through the Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, I found a term that was, I think, attributed to Yeats. It concerned -- or named -- his theory that a poet doesn't need or desire to nail everything down, nor to understand anything through and through. That is, I take it, a poet acknowledges the impossibility of so doing, and writes within that limitation -- or within the opening of that freedom, if you will. A n y w a y . . . I did not, alas, write down the term, find today that it would be useful, and wondered if any of you all might know, and be willing to part with it for two groschen. Or an opera. Whichever comes first.

Thanks.

IP


#133294 09/22/04 10:22 PM
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Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, evil, evil insel!!!

You had me all interested, and I thought you were going to tell us what the word was after that good explanation and now you don't have it. Ahhhhhhh.

[Stomping off to the corner to pout - e]


#133295 09/24/04 03:34 AM
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Well, Bel, when I do find it, I will be sure to let you know.


#133296 09/25/04 02:30 PM
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It concerned -- or named -- his theory that a poet doesn't need or desire to nail everything down, nor to understand anything through and through. That is, I take it, a poet acknowledges the impossibility of so doing, and writes within that limitation

The term you are looking for is "intuetics", inselpeter.** Nowadays it is referred to as "obscurantism" ... without any credit to Yeats. Defn. "A style in art and literature characterized by deliberate vagueness or obliqueness." [A-H]

And St. Paul said it best, long before Yeats, methinks. [Nostradamus and the priestesses of the Delphic Oracle had a leg up on Yeats, as well.]

to see through a glass darkly
To see “through a glass”—a mirror—“darkly” is to have an obscure or imperfect vision of reality. The expression comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul*; he explains that we do not now see clearly, but at the end of time, we will do so.

http://www.bartleby.com/59/1/throughaglas.html

* 1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

**
"I still, however, tend to see the tower as a symbol of “reason,” reason as opposed to “intuition.” The rational thinking of scientists and scholars is continually opposed to the inspiration or intuition of the artist in Yeats’ poetry, as it was in almost all forms of romanticism. The tower is a symbol I will need to re-examine and come back to later. Maybe next time around I’ll argue that the tower symbolizes Yeats’ view that art should be practiced as an act of life, not removed from the world."

http://lorenwebster.net/In_a_Dark_Time/archives/000111.html


#133297 09/25/04 09:39 PM
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Thanks, much. I *thought* it was right by "Inuit Poetry" (itself an interesting entry), but somehow, I couldn't find it.

"obscurantism" seems a bit, er, on the contrary, derogatory...no?


#133298 09/26/04 08:27 AM
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"obscurantism" seems a bit, er, on the contrary, derogatory...no?

That depends on what you're trying to obscure, Inselpeter.

Sometimes it's the only way to get satire published.

As you indicated in your original post, Inselpeter, it is not Yeat's label you are looking for. It's a commentator's label. That commentator may be no more credible in summing up Yeat's oeuvre than you or I.

"Intuetics" fits the bill, quite nicely, wouldn't you say?

If "poetics" is the study of "poetry", then "intuetics" is the study of "intuition". The conclusion is irresistible.

Two groshen, or an opera, whichever comes first. I think I'll settle for one groschen upfront, Inselpeter ... tho a "groschen" is "Inuit Poetry" to me.

#133299 09/26/04 08:43 PM
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a "groschen" is "Inuit Poetry" to me

Let's not get intuit now, Grapho.


#133300 09/27/04 04:19 PM
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"Intuetics" I like this word.

Can you say, his work is "intuetically" inclined?


#133301 09/27/04 10:54 PM
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I wish I'd known that back in school. "It's not rubbish, sir. I was being intuetical."
A very handy word indeed.


#133302 09/28/04 11:32 AM
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Can you say, his work is "intuetically" inclined?

You can if he works for an outdoor cafe and he rolls out the awning before a rainstorm ... without consulting a barometer.




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