Changes

Here is a subtle example.

Here is a subtle example.

:"Beauty is truth, truth beauty" wrote the Romantic poet John Keats in "Ode on a Grecian Urn." That famous citation, which expresses 19th-century Romanticism's trust in feeling over reason, is pertinent in the case of Anne Carson's newest volume...<ref>Berstein, Richard (2001), "Books of the Times: Beauty is Truth, and Sometimes Betrayal," February 14, 2001, p. E1</ref>

:"Beauty is truth, truth beauty" wrote the Romantic poet John Keats in "Ode on a Grecian Urn." That famous citation, which expresses 19th-century Romanticism's trust in feeling over reason, is pertinent in the case of Anne Carson's newest volume...<ref>Berstein, Richard (2001), "Books of the Times: Beauty is Truth, and Sometimes Betrayal," February 14, 2001, p. E1</ref>

What can be possiby be wrong this reviewer's quotation of what is probably the most famous line Keats ever wrote? The missing context here is an additional set of quotation marks. The actual closing lines of the poem are:

 

What can be possiby be misleading in this reviewer's quotation of what is probably the most famous line Keats ever wrote? The missing context here is an additional set of quotation marks. The actual closing lines of the poem are:

 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When old age shall this generation waste,<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When old age shall this generation waste,<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'<br>

It is not the narrative voice of the ''poem'' that says "Beauty is truth, truth beauty." It is the ''urn'' that says this ''to'' the narrator. The narrator is certainly ''moved'' by the urn, but it is by no means clear that the narrator fully agrees.

It is not the narrative voice of the ''poem'' that says "Beauty is truth, truth beauty." It is the ''urn'' that says this ''to'' the narrator. The narrator is certainly ''moved'' by the perceived message of the urn, but it is by no means clear that the narrator fully agrees.

Sometimes, even a subtle change in wording can radically change what the speaker meant to say. For example, Charles E. Wilson, president of General Motors from 1941 to 1953, is often slightly misquoted as having said

Sometimes, even a subtle change in wording can radically change what the speaker meant to say. For example, Charles E. Wilson, president of General Motors from 1941 to 1953, is often slightly misquoted as having said