centripoetoinen

Centripoetoinen is a term used in Finnish literary criticism to describe a poetics that emphasizes inward cohesion and a central motif in poetry. Derived from the idea of centripetal force, centripoetoinen poetry draws meaning toward a core image or idea, favoring unity and cumulative development over fragmentation.

The term emerged in Finnish literary criticism during the early 21st century. It is not universally defined, and its scope varies among writers and scholars; some use centripoetoinen to describe individual poems with a clear focal point, others to characterize whole sequences or collections. The label remains a topic of discussion rather than a firmly established category.

Common characteristics include a central axis around which other elements orient themselves, a formal architecture that reinforces unity (such as refrains, recurring motifs, or symmetrical progression), and a linguistic trajectory that converges on the core theme. Imagery and diction are often curated to illuminate or intensify the central motif, with a stylistic tendency toward restraint and containment.

Reception of the concept is mixed. Proponents argue that centripoetoinen offers a productive lens for understanding how form and meaning reinforce each other, while critics warn that the label can be vague or overextended. The term continues to be applied selectively in analyses of contemporary Finnish poetry and is occasionally invoked in broader discussions of poetics and poetic form.