Four-letter words in literature...

[Mad Swede]

We've been discussing C S Lewis in another thread, and there is a quote from an interview with him (in a TV program discussing eroticism in the arts) which I think might interest quite a few here:

Interviewer: "Tell me, Lewis, why do you disapprove of the use of four-letter words in literature?"

C S Lewis: "Because they are not erotic enough! They are not aphrodisiac enough. If you look through classical literature you will find that four-letter words are reserved for scurrility, satire and abuse. These are not the emotions that we wish to feel, are we, when we are making love?"

So what do we think about the use of four-letter words to convey eroticism and feelings of desire?

 

[RoccO]

I like Screwtape Letters and The Great Devorce. One is about spirits, communing with each other, and the other asks interesting questions about peace and metaphysics.

I can see why C S Lewis would have based opinions on eroticism and abuse. Ask Aslan, and he would probably bite your head off.

It comes as a bit of a surprise that Easter Mass opens up the mind like Narnia did, in a different world, maybe with the deplorable word of Jadis, pealing like a bell?

 

[pmmg]

Maybe CS Lewis did not read erotica.. Sometimes those words do get used in 'hot' ways.

It feels like he was searching for the word 'sexy' and could not find it. Course, making love, and just erotic are not really the same.

I avoid these words in my own writing as they feel lazy, and unimaginative to me. I suppose, to some degree, writing and art is showing off what I can do, and I dont want my brand to be 'reached for easy words cause that subs in for real' (I am looking at you Steven King). I'm an artist, Dammit, I can do better!

I want the right the words, and I want them to do the job the right way. Sometimes it may be those four letter sentence enhancers, but, so far, I've not seen the need.

If I was writing erotica though... Well, F..., I might use them.

(F... = Fiddlesticks. Get your mind out of the gutter )