Meaning: The quote "Narrative art, the novel, from Murasaki to Proust, has produced great works of poetry" by Eugenio Montale, an Italian poet, highlights the idea that narrative fiction, particularly the novel, has the ability to create poetic and artistic works that transcend traditional definitions of poetry. This quote suggests that the novel, as a form of narrative art, has the capacity to evoke emotions, create beauty, and convey profound truths in a way that is akin to poetry.

One of the significant aspects of this quote is the mention of Murasaki and Proust, two renowned authors from different cultural and historical contexts. Murasaki refers to Lady Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese writer and poet who is best known for her novel "The Tale of Genji," often considered one of the earliest novels in world literature. Marcel Proust, on the other hand, was a French writer whose monumental work "In Search of Lost Time" is celebrated for its intricate narrative style and profound exploration of memory and human experience.

When Montale refers to "great works of poetry" produced by the novel, he is recognizing the capacity of narrative fiction to achieve the same artistic heights and emotional resonance traditionally associated with poetry. This perspective challenges the conventional boundaries between poetry and prose, suggesting that the novel, through its narrative complexity and emotive power, can also be a vehicle for poetic expression.

The quote also implies a continuity in the tradition of narrative art, spanning from the ancient Japanese literary masterpiece "The Tale of Genji" to Proust's modernist exploration of time, memory, and human consciousness. This continuity underscores the enduring relevance of narrative fiction as a medium for conveying profound artistic and emotional experiences across different cultures and historical periods.

In essence, Montale's quote invites readers to appreciate the poetic qualities of the novel, recognizing that the art of storytelling can embody the same lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and philosophical insight found in traditional poetry. It encourages a broader understanding of literary art, one that embraces the novel as a form capable of producing works that are not only compelling narratives but also rich, evocative, and deeply poetic expressions of the human experience.