inspiration


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inspiration

Biology the act or process of inhaling; breathing in

Inspiration

 

a psychological state characterized by sharply increased activation of the inner personality, a strong emotional upsurge, and a straining of the spiritual and physical powers. Inspiration is one of the main precursors to creative process and is closely related to a great effort to concentrate with the simultaneous utilization of memory, imagination, and intense thought processes. All this is usually accompanied by the orientation of the personality toward a sharply restricted aim and the exclusion from its attention of everything not having a direct relation to the creative task to be resolved.

REFERENCES

Woodworth, R. S. Eksperimental’naia psikhologiia. Moscow, 1950. Chapter 25. (Translated from English.)
Petrovskii, A. V. Rol’fantazii v razvitii lichnosti. Moscow, 1961.

A. V. PETROVSKII

inspiration

[‚in·spə′rā·shən]
(physiology)
The drawing in of the breath.

Inspiration

Aganippe
fountain at foot of Mt. Helicon, consecrated to Muses. [Gk. Myth.: LLEI, I: 322]
angelica
traditional representation of inspiration. [Herb Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 164]
Calliope
Muse of heroic poetry. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 47]
Castalia
Parnassian spring; regarded as source of inspiration. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 52]
Clio
Muse of history. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 64]
dove
source of afflatus. [Art: Hall, 161]
Dulcinea
(del Toboso) country girl, whom Quixote apotheosizes as guiding light. [Span. Lit.: Don Quixote]
Erato
Muse of lyric poetry, love poetry, and marriage songs. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 97]
Euterpe
Muse of music and lyric poetry. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmer-man, 105]
Hippocrene
Mt. Helicon spring regarded as source of poetic inspiration. [Gk. Myth.: NCE, 1246]
lactating breast
representation of poetic and musical impulse. [Art: Hall, 161]
Melpomene Muse
of tragedy (tragic drama). [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 163]
palm, garland of
traditional identification of a Muse. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 374]
Pegasus
steed of the Muses; symbolizes poetic inspiration. [Gk. Myth.: Espy, 32]
Pierian spring
fountain in Macedonia, sacred to the Muses, believed to communicate inspiration. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 787]
Polyhymnia or Polymania
Muse of sacred song, oratory, lyric, singing, and rhetoric. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 216]
Stroeve, Blanche
her body inspired Strickland to paint nude portrait. [Br. Lit.: The Moon and Sixpence, Magill I, 621–623]
Terpsichore
Muse of choral song and dancing. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 260]
Thalia
Muse of comedy. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 261]
tongues of fire
manifestation of Holy Spirit’s descent on Pentecost. [N.T.: Acts 2:1–4]
Urania
Muse of astronomy. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 284]
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The energy -- or say, rather, the inspiration which had held him up, until he should have delivered the sacred message that had brought its own strength along with it from heaven -- was withdrawn, now that it had so faithfully performed its office.
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I believe it was an inspiration rather than a temptation: it was very genial, very soothing--I know that.
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At that crisis, a sudden inspiration descended on me; I was moved to rise and denounce Jabez Branderham as the sinner of the sin that no Christian need pardon.
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No, I'll go and see Colin first and tell him--I know what I'll tell him," with a sudden inspiration.
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Miss Pross recalled soon afterwards, and to the end of her life remembered, that as she pressed her hands on Sydney's arm and looked up in his face, imploring him to do no hurt to Solomon, there was a braced purpose in the arm and a kind of inspiration in the eyes, which not only contradicted his light manner, but changed and raised the man.
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Estella was the inspiration of it, and the heart of it, of course.
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Well, then, some lady must have stayed here once," I retorted, with a sudden inspiration, "and left them behind--"
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Since then Erskine had been bent on writing another drama, without regard to the exigencies of the stage, but he had not yet begun it, in consequence of his inspiration coming upon him at inconvenient hours, chiefly late at night, when he had been drinking, and had leisure for sonnets only.
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It was poetry that inculcated laws and maxims; it was by the harmony of its lines that traditions were handed down at a time when memory had to supply the place of writing; and it was the first language of wisdom and of inspiration.
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There is no impiety in believing that, when his long life was over, the apostle of the Indians was welcomed to the celestial abodes by the prophets of ancient days and by those earliest apostles and evangelists who had drawn their inspiration from the immediate presence of the Saviour.
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But there is something beyond - a higher point, a subtle and unmistakable touch of love and pride beyond mere skill; almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art - which IS art.
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This resolve revived some hope in the hearts of these two men; they felt strong in the same inspiration.
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