Is it really pretentious to quote classic literature in everyday conversation?

Question

If you met someone who spontaneously answered a question of yours with a Latin quote or some Shakespeare, would you be offended, annoyed, impressed, or... some fourth thing? (Providing, of course, that they explained it immediately and didn't just glare at you?)

Not that this just happened to me, or anything.

Answer 1

The answer is yes! I am a grad student studying English Lit...so obviously I may know a bit more about Shakespeare, Dante or Dickens than those around me in my everyday life. If I want to discuss classic literature I speak up in class. The classroom or a literary colloquium (or maybe at home if others are interested) are the places for scolarly discourse - not hanging out at a football game or waiting in line at the supermarket. If I was to spout off about wierd facts I knew in everyday conversation, all I would be doing is trying to build myself up by making others feel stupid. When in reality it isn't that those around me are stupid, they just may not be as interested in literature as I am. They probably actually have a life - ya know . They go out to dinner and watch movies. Pretentious people know alot of stuff because they stay at home all night studying because no one wants to invite them out because they are not any fun to be around!

Answer 2

It would be pretentious if you were doing it knowing that the person was not familiar with the quote. You are putting them on the spot for potential embarassment. If you are having a conversation with an English professor, then you can use a famous Shakespeare quote in context of some comments. Just to quote it to him (or her, so you libbies won't go nuts) will give him the impression you are showing off.



To answer your question, the average person would probably suddenly feel uncomfortable if you didn't explain yourself and just expected that person to understand the quote in the context in which you used it.

Answer 3

I think it depends on who you're hanging out with and what the situation is. I don't mind flinging quotes around when I'm with my friends who are also inclined towards literature, but I don't do it so often when I'm around people who aren't.



One thing that I do like doing, though: Shakespeare has come up with some incredibly fantastic insults, and they can be found scattered all throughout his plays. Sometimes I like hurling those around when I'm angry instead of using the regular swear words. People might be able to react to a common everyday swear word, but sometimes, a little bit of Old English is just the thing to make them stop and stare while I make my exit.

Answer 4

It's not pretentious in general, but some pretentious people quote alot b/c pretensious people don't really think for themselves too often - quotes become the 'Hey! Look at me!' of the conversation.



Just about all my friends quote some lit. every now and again, so I don't really think too much of it. It's really kinda normal conversation to me.



...and by the way, Dante, it seems to be, is rather well suited to football. Though Dickens...not so much.

Answer 5

Depends. Were you both out digging ditches? Pretentious. Were you both at a book reading or at college? Not pretentious. Context and setting are everything in this case.

Answer 6

If it applied, then cool.



Good info comes in many forms and, yes, some of these forms are old. Wisdom of the ages, you know.

Answer 7

I would find it pretentious, yes.