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Literary notes about wield (AI summary)

The word "wield" in literature spans a range of uses—from the literal handling of weapons to the more abstract exercise of power and influence. In epic narratives like The Iliad, Homer employs it vividly to depict warriors commanding maces, javelins, and swords in battle ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5]), while texts such as Le Morte d'Arthur extend its use to ceremonial objects like shields ([6], [7], [8]). Beyond the battlefield, authors often invoke "wield" to suggest the possession and active use of power, whether it be the authority of leadership or the creative force behind the written word—as seen in Nietzsche’s reflection on non-physical power ([9]), Coleridge’s exploration of magic and influence ([10]), and even in the autonomous power of the pen ([11]). This dual connotation enriches the term, making it a versatile literary tool that underscores both martial vigor and the commanding presence of abstract forces.
  1. Fierce on the ships above, the cars below, These wield the mace, and those the javelin throw.
    — from The Iliad by Homer
  2. No following troops his brave associate grace: In close engagement an unpractised race, The Locrian squadrons nor the javelin wield,
    — from The Iliad by Homer
  3. Threatening he said: the hostile chiefs advance; At once Asteropeus discharged each lance, (For both his dexterous hands the lance could wield,)
    — from The Iliad by Homer
  4. Dismiss the bow, and lay thy arrows by: Thy arms no less suffice the lance to wield, And quit the quiver for the ponderous shield.
    — from The Iliad by Homer
  5. The prizes next are order'd to the field, For the bold champions who the caestus wield.
    — from The Iliad by Homer
  6. said King Arthur; is there any of you here that will take upon him to wield this shield?
    — from Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Sir Thomas Malory
  7. well it falleth not for you, for he must be a better knight than ye that shall wield this shield.
    — from Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Sir Thomas Malory
  8. That is truth, said Sir Gareth; an I have not you and wield not you as my wife, there shall never lady nor gentlewoman rejoice me.
    — from Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Sir Thomas Malory
  9. What is it that bestows authority upon men who have no physical power to wield (no army, no arms at all ...)?
    — from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book I and II by Nietzsche
  10. or, if convened, Must not the magic power that charms together Millions of men in council, needs have power To win or wield them?
    — from Biographia Literaria by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  11. One of the first women to wield the pen-editorial thirty years ago, she was so independent and fearless as to excite the wonder of her readers.
    — from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I

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