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About this quote

What does it mean?
Repeating the phrase about a rose creates a rhythmic focus that treats the word itself with affection.
In plain terms
Repeating a simple phrase makes poetry by caressing the meaning of the word.
What can you take from it?
Repetition in language can create art by focusing attention on a single noun.

Where it applies

  • writing poetry
  • analyzing text
  • speaking

Putting it to work

  • use repetition
  • focus on words
  • explore rhythm

Questions to consider

  • Why does repetition feel like a caress?
  • What makes words matter?

Another view

Not all repetition creates poetic meaning or caresses the noun.

More from Gertrude Stein

  1. Poetry is I say essentially a vocabulary just as prose is essentially not. And what is the vocabulary of which poetry absolutely is. It is a vocabulary based o…

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  2. A master-piece ... may be unwelcome but it is never dull.

    Permalink to quote #41
  3. Remarks are not literature.

    Permalink to quote #38

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