Today, I was reading "The Gold Bug" and I came upon the sentence:
You are well aware that chemical preparations exist, and have existed time out of mind, by means of which it is possible to write on either paper or vellum, so that the characters shall become visible only when subjected to the action of fire. (584)
I was shocked to read this and almost jumped out of my chair. You see a few years ago, I wrote a poem using the phrase "time out of mind" and a teacher who did not like me ( not at this school) came over and snickered to me "you stole that from TS Eliot. As she walked away I thought, no I didn't I stole it from Dylan. When I told this to another English teacher she said no Poe used it first in Fall of the House of Usher." Later when I read William Wilson, I saw that Poe also used this very phrase in that story also.
So Today when I read the above quoted passage I went running to google and I found that Poe used it in at least 7 different stories and poems, including:"Devil in the Belfry," "Fall of the House of Usher," " Morning on the Wissachccan,"" Erueka, "" Mellonta Tauta,"" William Wilson,"" Gold Bug," and "Notes to Hans Pfaal. "
So my question is- did I actually steal it from Dylan, who stole it from Eliot, who stole it from Poe who stole it from himself, again, or by using it as much as he did, did Poe actually make it a common phrase thereby giving it to any and all who chose to use it? I also thought that maybe by using it as much as he did, the phrase could actually be seen as a signature phrase to be used solely by Poe thereby showing that anyone who uses this phrase is actually referring to the fact that they have read Poe.
I want to know what you all think on this- is it ever ok to used a phrase- any phrase , your own or someone else's, and if it is, then when?
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2 comments:
Audrey! Hello!
I don't think that one can copyright a phrase and no one else is allowed to use it. I think if a phrase fits something, a situation or a time, then it's okay to use it. I use that phrase "time out of mind" myself sometimes. I think you have sort of let the spirit lead you to it. Last Spring for example, I quoted from King Lear in an e-mail to my professor telling him that my car was broken into.
It depends on the situation.
To follow up on Kimberly's comment...
So you stole something from Dylan who stole it from Elliot who stole it from Poe...but...how many other phrases do we constantly use today that are stolen from other writers? I don't see anything wrong in borrowing phrases however, if I know that it has come from a particular writer I guess I have to admit the fact that I usually state something like "just like _insert author here__ says..." and then I quote the author.
I am feeling now like I've said all this and written myself in a circle. I suppose that in some ways, I don't see the problem in borrowing other author's phrases however, I can also easily see how it can be seen as something that isn't quite right either. Yep, wrote myself in a circle, sorry I couldn't give you a "yes" or "no" answer but I tried. Interesting post, it got me thinking Audrey...perhaps I'll ponder it a little more and get back to you
-Steph
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