What is "exuberance of diction"?

[Ruben Meijerink]

Hey all,

Our friend Harold Bloom says that a book enters the canon "only by aesthetic strength, which is constituted primarily of an amalgam: mastery of figurative language, originality, cognitive power, knowledge, exuberance of diction." (underlining mine)

But what is exuberance of diction? I have no clue. (Also, what constitutes aesthetic strength for you, if explicable at all?)

Thanks and have a nice day :)

[Pumpkin337]

exuberance = the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness

diction = speech

in other words the author needs to convey what he or she wants to say with an energy , excitement and joy.

[Ruben Meijerink]

Thank you. That's funny 'cause most books in the Dutch canon are quite the opposite...

[Pumpkin337]

I don't think you should confuse the author's enthusiasm for writing with the writing itself ie the writing can be sad, serious, tragic, or otherwise not joyfull in its content and still you can see in it the passion of the author.

[Ruben Meijerink]

I understood that :), but a lot of writers I was referring to (Grunberg, Bordewijk) write like they are spectators at their own story, very descriptive 'matter of fact' without emotion.

[Pumpkin337]

aah, but then I guess perhaps your original quote does not apply to all writing - which is entirely possible being merely his opinion rather than gospel :D

[cacian]

Thank you. That's funny 'cause most books in the Dutch canon are quite the opposite...

how do you mean the opposite?