It seemed to be a necessary ritual that he should prepare himself for sleep by meditating under the solemnity of the night sky... a mysterious transaction between the infinity of the soul and the infinity of the universe.
Victor HugoRead
The drama is complete poetry. The ode and the epic contain it only in germ; it contains both of them in a state of high development, and epitomizes both.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that drama encapsulates the essence of both poetry and epic narratives, showcasing their themes in a more developed form.
Victor Hugo's assertion highlights the comprehensive nature of drama as a literary art form that merges the emotional depth of poetry with the expansive storytelling of epics. He suggests that while poetry and epics serve as foundational expressions of human experience, drama elevates these elements into a more intricate and fully realized representation of life, showcasing their themes and characters in dynamic interactions.
Themes
DramaPoetryLiteratureExpressionArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the importance of theater in education, one might say, 'As Victor Hugo said, the drama is complete poetry, making it essential for understanding complex human emotions.'
More from Victor Hugo
All quotes →When two mouths, made sacred by love, draw near to each other to create, it is impossible, that above that ineffable kiss there should not be a thrill in the immense mystery of the stars.
Victor HugoRead
At that moment of love, a moment when passion is absolutely silent under omnipotence of ecstasy, Marius, pure seraphic Marius, would have been more capable of visiting a woman of the streets than of raising Cosette’s dress above the ankle. Once on a moonlit night, Cosette stopped to pick up something from the ground, her dress loosened and revealed the swelling of her breasts. Marius averted his eyes.
Victor HugoRead
Thought is the work of the intellect, reverie is its self-indulgence. To substitute day-dreaming for thought is to confuse a poison with a source of nourishment.
Victor HugoRead
Taste is the common sense of genius.
Victor HugoRead
Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man.... Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!
Victor HugoRead
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