Harold Bloom suggests that poetry has a unique power to evoke strong emotional responses that prose fiction often cannot match. This "kind of violence" refers to the profound impact poetry can have on readers, stirring deep feelings and challenging perceptions in ways that narratives may not achieve. Through its condensed language and vivid imagery, poetry captures intense moments and truths that resonate personally for the reader.

In his work "How to Read and Why," Bloom emphasizes that the potency of poetry lies in its ability to distill experience into a form that can profoundly disrupt or transform our understanding of ourselves and the world. This capacity makes poetry distinct from prose, providing a more immediate and visceral connection that can elicit intense reactions and reflections.