The Poet's Job Is Not To Tell You What Happened

In the following quote by Northrop Frye, "the poet's job is not to tell you what happened, but what happens: not what did take place, but the kind of thing that always does take place" (Frye 35), Frye is explaining that the poet's job is not only to narrate events or tell a story but also to communicate emotions and feelings that relate to all human experiences, allowing the audience to feel what the poet is feeling when writing the poem. A poet should be able to create a story that not only states what happens, but also provides a deeper meaning that unfolds an underlying storyline. Poetry is a form of art rather than a form of journalism or history. Instead of simply relaying information, a poet uses language and imagery to make the poem feel real. A poem should stimulate readers to think about different ways to interpret the text instead of everything being stated. Northrop Frye stated, “In literature, you do not just read one poem or novel after another but enter into a complete world of which every work of literature forms part" (Frye 39). Frye explains that each work of literature is not a separate

This allows the audience to feel what the poet is feeling when writing the poem. A poet should be able to create a story that not only states what happens but also provides a deeper meaning that unfolds an underlying storyline. Poetry is a form of art rather than a form of journalism or history. Instead of simply relaying information, a poet uses language and imagery to make the poem feel real. The poem should stimulate readers to think about different ways to interpret the text, instead of everything being