😊 Here below listed are the important aspects about Unit Six.

I.Theme

The contrasts between Oppenheimer and Dirac in physics and Auden and Spender in poetry indicates that to be original and profound, one has to be focused.

II. Writing Style

He author uses the 1981 conference as the benchmark and goes back to earlier times and in the last two paragraphs returns the scene to the time of writhing. This technique of montage is used largely in cinema.

For example:

The 1981 conference and the author’s indecision→(flashback to 1925-1927) earlier life of Oppenheimer and his relations with Dirac→(back to 1981) the author’s decision: Spender and Auden→(flashback) Spender and Oppenheimer(1956)→(1958) Oppenheimer, Dirac and the author→(back to 1981) meeting with Spender→(bringing the scene to 1996) concluding remarks.

The author knits seemingly scattered anecdote of various characters into a coherent whole.

III. Implications

Great poetry and great physics cannot be imitated. As Dirac put it, “the really great in physics are had by only one person.” To be original and profound, one has to be focused. As the author says, Auden and Dirac focused like laser beams. This, according to the author, is the cause of the difference of being great and merely very good. Besides, great poetry and physics are driven ahead by unanticipated genius. The merely very good cannot contribute to the development of either poetry or physics.

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