This book examines the profound connection between the mystical experience of prayer and the creative process of writing poetry. In this work, Bremond argues that there is a fundamental similarity between the two activities, both arising from the same spiritual or transcendent source. There are four main points discussed in this book, including
(1) Prayer and poetry as mystical experiences. Bremond sees that both prayer and poetry are not simply verbal activities, but are manifestations of a deeper inner experience. He argues that both the poet and the person praying strive to transcend the limitations of language and achieve a higher understanding. (2) Critique of Aristotle's views. This book challenges the traditional view, originating with Aristotle, that poetry is limited to the realm of aesthetics and imitation. Bremond argues that poetry has a spiritual dimension that cannot be explained by purely aesthetic theory. (3) Focus on the creative process. Bremond shifts the focus from the final product of poetry to the process of its creation. He explores how intuition, inspiration, and moments of illumination in a poet's creative process reflect similar mystical experiences in prayer. (4) Cross-disciplinary relevance. Although published almost a century ago, Bremond's arguments remain relevant in discussions about the relationship between religion, spirituality, and art. This book offers a unique theological and literary perspective on the sources of artistic inspiration.