T.S Eliot and Modernism - 1137 Words

How does TS Eliot express his modernist concerns in his poems? TS Elliot represents the views of many artists of the modernist movement who encapsulate the psychological and emotional distress of WW1 and the early events of the 20th Century in his poems. Modernists believe that every individual in an industrialised city is part of a superficial society that reduces the depth and value of human relationships. The alienation and loneliness as a consequence of this superficial society are strong themes that are part of many modernist works. This meaning is hidden behind layers of complicated and elitist imagery and symbolism which force the reader to search for meaning in the poem as the poets search for meaning in their modern lives. The†¦show more content†¦The poem questions – â€Å"But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen: Would it have been worthwhile† – whether the exposure of one’s inner self would have been worthwhile. If a person has to contemplate whether the revelation of the ir true thoughts and feelings will affect the society around them, then it demonstrates how shallow and superficial that society is and the lack of communication between people. This concern about the increased importance of appearances is conveyed in TS Eliot’s â€Å"Preludes† as well. In the poem, the relationships between people is described using a simile – â€Å"With all the other masquerades that time resumes† – which connects the relationship between people with masquerades, suggesting that people connect through outwards appearances and mask their inner selves. This superficiality of modern society where nothing is honest or real shows how devoid of meaning the relationships between modern men are. The widespread nature of this society is shown through the use of metonymy – â€Å"One thinks of all the hands that are raising dingy shades In a thousand furnished rooms† – which dehumanises the crowds and suggests that the re are countless people who shut away the rest of the world from the inner thoughts and feelings that they cannot share with society. Modernist poems such as â€Å"The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock†, â€Å"Preludes† and â€Å"Rhapsody on a Windy Night† by TS Eliot reveals the modernist concern about modernShow MoreRelatedEssay T.S. Eliot and Modernism931 Words   |  4 PagesThe modernist writers of the twentieth century produced works of poetry and prose which were unique to the form. The writing style of modernism was unprecedented and reflective of the socio-political events of the period. T.S Eliot was a pre-eminent figure in modernism publishing many important works of prose and poetry in his lifetime. â€Å"Eliot forged a style of aggressively fragmentary, urban poetry, full of indelicate, ‘unpoetic’ images and diction† (OXFORD BRITLIT) Eliot’s â€Å"The Love Song of J.Read MoreT.S. Eliot - the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufroc k and Preludes - Modernism1143 Words   |  5 PagesHow has Eliot used both conventional and Modernist poetic techniques to represent his Modernist concerns? The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and Preludes expresses Eliot’s Modernist concerns about the lack of morals and values in modern society through the use of personas within the urban landscape and the urban society. 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Literature Possesses The Capability1749 Words   |  7 Pagespublicized as many thoughts and critical views as T.S. Eliot, and by disseminating his opinions throughout the literature world, Eliot found a way to communicate new perspectives and tastes in literature (Worthen). Born in the fall of 1888, T.S. Eliot grew up to become one of the most influential poets of all time as he found a unique way of communicating through literature. Sometimes referred to as the â€Å"keeper of the language† or the â€Å"model poet of our time,† Eliot presented powerful criticisms of societyRead MoreThe Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Essay1524 Words   |  7 Pageshistorical context of a particula r poem Poem: T. S. Eliot, ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock The context of any given text whether poetry, novels or a movie is always integral to its understanding. Social and historical context of not only the given text, but the writer’s context and reader’s context play an important role in the interpretation and understanding of the major ideas, issues, values and beliefs within the text. T.S (Thomas Stearns) Eliot was one of the twentieth century’s major poetsRead MoreAllusion In The Waste Land By T. S. Eliot921 Words   |  4 Pages These lines are from the poem The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot. Though Eliot is purposefully obscure and vague in the poem, this stanza is pretty clear when analyzed. In this stanza, it represents the literal translation about the aftermath of World War 1 and the feelings that are reverberated by it. In the lines, â€Å"After the agony in stony places / The shouting and the crying† (388). The stony places are to represent the destruction of Europe. This is accompanied by the great sadness and pain thatRead MoreThe Impact Of Literature On Literature And The Social View Of Poetry1391 Words   |  6 Pagespublicized as many thoughts and critical views as T.S. Eliot, and by disseminating his opinions throughout the literature world, Eliot found a way to communicate new perspectives and tastes in literature (Worthen). Born in the fall of 1888, T.S. Eliot grew up to become one of the most influential poets of all time, as he found a unique way of communicating through literature. Sometimes referred to as the â€Å"keeper of the language† or the â€Å"model poet of our time† Eliot presented powerful criticisms of society