moon and sixpence, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowformal, literary
Quick answer
What does “moon and sixpence, the” mean?
The title of W. Somerset Maugham's 1919 novel, inspired by the life of artist Paul Gauguin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of W. Somerset Maugham's 1919 novel, inspired by the life of artist Paul Gauguin.
Used to refer to the novel itself, its themes (the conflict between bourgeois respectability and artistic passion), or to denote a romanticized escape from conventional life in pursuit of art. The title is metaphorical: the 'moon' represents an unattainable ideal or artistic vision, while the 'sixpence' symbolizes mundane, material concerns.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The reference is equally recognized in educated circles in both the UK and US, given Maugham's international fame. The coin 'sixpence' is historically British, which may be less familiar to modern American audiences.
Connotations
Connotes literary sophistication, early 20th-century modernism, and discussions about art, sacrifice, and societal rebellion.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech. Encountered almost solely in literary, artistic, or academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “moon and sixpence, the” in a Sentence
[subject] references The Moon and Sixpence[subject] is reminiscent of The Moon and SixpenceVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, art history, and cultural studies courses discussing early 20th-century literature or post-impressionism.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by well-read individuals making an analogy about someone abandoning a career for art.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moon and sixpence, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moon and sixpence, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moon and sixpence, the”
- Using it literally (e.g., talking about actual currency).
- Incorrectly recalling the title as 'The Moon and Sixpence' without the article 'The' at the start, though it's often dropped in casual reference.
- Misspelling 'sixpence' as 'six pence'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a novel of fiction. However, it is very loosely inspired by episodes from the life of the French post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin.
It is a metaphor. The 'moon' represents the protagonist's unattainable artistic ideal or dream, while the 'sixpence' symbolizes the trivial, material comforts and societal expectations he abandons.
Yes, to use it meaningfully. Without understanding the novel's context, the phrase is just a title. It is used almost exclusively by people making a direct reference to the book's themes.
No, it is quite rare. You will encounter it mainly in literary discussions, book reviews, or as an educated allusion in writing or speech about art and sacrifice.
The title of W. Somerset Maugham's 1919 novel, inspired by the life of artist Paul Gauguin.
Moon and sixpence, the is usually formal, literary in register.
Moon and sixpence, the: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmuːn ən(d) ˈsɪkspəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmuːn ən(d) ˈsɪkspəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not an idiom itself, but the source of conceptual reference]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an artist (Gauguin) looking at the moon (his dream) but having only a sixpence (his reality) in his pocket.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTISTIC FULFILLMENT IS A DISTANT MOON; MATERIAL LIFE IS A SMALL COIN.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'The Moon and Sixpence' primarily refer to?