Grit

Question

Hello,What does the word "grit" mean in the following passage?“The Snow Leopard” is almost entirely about Zen, and “Far Tortuga,” plainly Matthiessen’s favorite book, grew out of his practice in a different way. “It was the most exhilarating book I’ve ever written,” he told an interviewer for The Paris Review in 1999. “More than anything I’ve done, perhaps, ‘Far Tortuga’ was influenced by Zen training. The grit and feel of this present moment, moment after moment, opening out into the oceanic wonder of the sea and sky.”Thank you.

Clive · Accepted Answer

detailed realism

SuperESL · Answer

Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Grit - something that "grabs" you, perhaps irritating or tingling the sense of character and determination.

SuperESL · Answer

I can see how the explanations that you and Clive have given me fit in with the quoted passage. But I was wondering why I don't see them amongst the standard definitions given in any of the most respected dictionaries:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/grit?q=grit

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/grit

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grit?show=0&t=1396538693

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/grit?showCookiePolicy=true

One of the standard meanings of 'grit' is coarseness or the degree of abrasiveness, according to the dictionaries. I suppose I can stretch it to mean the degree to which something ****** or irritates your skin, makes you uncomfortable, and hence keeps you awake and alert to reality. I will have to extrapolate a bit in order to go from "abrasiveness" to "realism."

Thank you.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Good writers paint "pictures in words" and leave the interpretation to the imagination of their astute and creative readers.

Grit

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