walter benjamin on literature

"Literature says very little to those who understand it."
-Walter Benjamin

If you have any idea what this means, please post a comment.

I'll give you a clue: stasis.

john ruskin applied to ulysses

If a combination is to be harmonious, then "the artist must induce in each of its component parts, such imperfection as that the other shall put it right...all parts of a noble work must be separately imperfect; each must imply, and ask for, all the others."

Ruskin is talking about architecture, but this is a perfect description of how the different chapters of Ulysses work together to form a united whole. Claritas emerging from consonantia. Also think of how this applies to Stephen, Bloom and Molly.