poeticism

Poeticism is a term used in literary criticism to describe the quality or practice of imbuing language with poetic characteristics. It denotes the deliberate foregrounding of imagery, metaphor, rhythm, sound patterns, and heightened emotion in speech or writing. While not a formal movement, poeticism functions as a stylistic criterion by which prose or verse may be judged or described.

In poetry, poeticism emphasizes musicality, concision, and imaginative insight; in prose, it refers to a lyrical style that trades straightforward exposition for suggestive language and symbolic resonance. Poeticism often involves a heightened sensitivity to language and a preference for suggestive rather than merely explicit meaning.

Historically, expressions of poeticism appear across literary periods, notably in Romantic and Symbolist contexts, where language seeks to evoke experience beyond literal meaning. Poeticism can be achieved through devices such as metaphor, simile, imagery, alliteration, assonance, and carefully arranged syntax that mirrors musical flow.

Critics discuss poeticism in terms of function and accessibility: it can heighten mood and aesthetic depth but may obscure argument or clarity if overemphasized. As a descriptive term, poeticism complements discussions of style, diction, and form, and it can serve as a guide to recognizing how authors pursue the qualities typically associated with poetry within different genres.