Albert Mordell opens The Literature of Ecstasy by dismissing the notion that poetry must be metrical or artificial. He asserts that ecstasy—an emotional atmosphere—is the true essence of poetry, and that prose works can be poetic when they convey deep feeling. This bold redefinition immediately sets the stage for a polemical study that will challenge academic and popular assumptions about literary value.

Redefining Poetry Through Ecstasy

In the introduction, Mordell states his central thesis: poetry is not defined by verse form but by the presence of ecstasy. He writes that poetry is “an emotional atmosphere that pervades all literature in its finest parts” and that it characterizes “any purely personal expression of the creative imagination.” This allows him to include prose works—such as those by Whitman, Ibsen, and Tolstoy—as poetry when they are written with ecstatic intensity. The opening thus prepares readers for a study that will range across genres and periods, focusing on emotional power rather than formal rules.

The Psychology of Ecstasy as a Critical Tool

Mordell devotes a chapter to the psychology of ecstasy, grounding his argument in human experience rather than literary convention. He suggests that ecstasy is a state of heightened emotion that can be accessed through reading and writing, and that it is this state that makes literature memorable and transformative. By emphasizing the psychological dimension, he moves the discussion away from technical analysis of meter and rhyme toward the reader’s subjective response. This approach allows him to champion works that might be dismissed as prosy or didactic, as long as they convey genuine emotional fervor.

Prose as the Natural Language of Ecstatic Literature

One of Mordell’s most provocative claims is that prose, not verse, is the natural language of ecstatic literature. He argues that verse often imposes artificial constraints that dilute emotional expression, while prose allows for a more direct and powerful conveyance of feeling. He supports this by pointing to historical examples where prose preceded verse in literary development, and by analyzing blank verse and free verse as forms of prose. This section challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about what constitutes poetic language and to value emotional authenticity over formal elegance.

Ecstasy and Social Purpose in Literature

Mordell defends literature that advances social ideals, arguing that ecstasy can be harnessed for moral and philosophical purposes. He criticizes the “art for art’s sake” movement as a mask for conventional morality, and praises writers like Ibsen and Whitman for using ecstatic prose to challenge societal norms. He contends that great works often have a purpose, and that the objection to didacticism is frequently a reaction against liberal ideas. This section positions ecstasy as a force for intellectual and social progress, not merely aesthetic pleasure.

Readers approaching The Literature of Ecstasy should expect a combative, idea-driven work that redefines poetry in emotional rather than formal terms. Mordell’s arguments are supported by references to psychology, literary history, and contemporary criticism, but the excerpts reveal only a portion of his evidence. The book rewards those who engage with its central thesis and are willing to reconsider what makes literature poetic.