Writing a story or a novel is one way of discovering sequence in experience, of stumbling upon cause and effect in the happenings of a writer's own life.
Eudora WeltyRead
Southerners love a good tale. They are born reciters, great memory retainers, diary keepers, letter exchangers . . . great talkers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the cultural significance of storytelling in Southern communities.
Eudora Welty emphasizes the importance of narrative and communication in Southern culture, suggesting that Southerners possess a natural talent for sharing experiences and stories. This affinity for storytelling fosters a deep sense of community and connection, as it allows individuals to preserve their memories and cultural heritage through oral tradition and written correspondence.
Themes
StorytellingSouthern CultureCommunicationNarrativeMemory
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about the importance of oral history.
More from Eudora Welty
All quotes βA sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within.
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For the source of the short story is usually lyrical. And all writers speak from, and speak to, emotions eternally the same in all of us: love, pity, terror do not show favorites or leave any of us out.
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The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order the continuous thread of revelation.
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The first act of insight is throw away the labels. In fiction, while we do not necessarily write about ourselves, we write out of ourselves, using ourselves; what we learn from, what we are sensitive to, what we feel strongly about--these become our characters and go to make our plots. Characters in fiction are conceived from within, and they have, accordingly, their own interior life; they are individuals every time.
Eudora WeltyRead
Each day the storm clouds were opening like great purple flowers and pouring out their dark thunder. Each nightfall, the storm was laid down on their houses like a burden the day had carried.
Eudora WeltyRead
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