Its from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Philosophy of Composition",
"It is my design to render it manifest that no one point in its composition is referable either to accident or intuition- that the work proceeded step by step, to its completion, with the precision and rigid consequence of a mathematical problem."
I don't blame you if you have no clue what it means, but if you do happen to know, please tell.
2007-01-14 07:10:20 · 6 answers · asked by relish 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It is important because he is stating that writing a piece of literature is as complex as finding a new math theory.
2007-01-14 07:14:46 · answer #1 · answered by dude 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is refering to writing a story, novel, or some sort of composition. Either doing it by accident or your own intent. The work is done step by step til it is completed. With the procision of a math problem. (until getting it right)
That is what I got out of it. I think it is important for anyone writing a book. It has to be done with care to detail and precision. Not just rushing through it but working it till it is perfect and done right. :) Hope this helped!!
2007-01-14 11:47:25 · answer #2 · answered by silverboy470 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is saying composition is a philosophy of a precise, accurate, and complete set of steps requiring the same precision as a mathematical equation. It does not occur by accident nor insight. It takes great skill and challange to compose in a step by step fashion a poem, story, etc. with just as much intelligence as it does a mathematical problem and to see it to its completion. They are one but the same in his eyes.
2007-01-14 09:24:50 · answer #3 · answered by Jules 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It takes some time to understand the quote, but after reading it a couple times... It seems to mean that the specific course of action Will not be random nor haphazard- each and every step in the process with be calculated to a point of certainty that could not be attributed to chance nor perception.
2007-01-14 07:18:21 · answer #4 · answered by ••Mott•• 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means that the speaker wants to show that his/her conclusion is supported only by facts and reasoning step by step, not by any flights of fancy or guesses.
In some sense it's like showing your work on a homework problem. You didn't get the answer by accident or guess. You worked thru it.
2007-01-14 07:15:54 · answer #5 · answered by knitsafghans 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think he is saying that each point will have been made using logic and that the facts will join together in this logical manner as well as a math equation and as such each point of fact will lead to the singular conclusion that he has arrived at.
2007-01-14 07:17:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋