Write Activity: A2.13 Lesson: Read 1. What is accomplished by the lengthy description of the "evening" in the first few stanzas of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"? In the Poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, by T. S. Eliot, the author does not tell about his intellectual life. Instead, he keeps that information a secret; however, he does not live a social or public life. Therefore, it is all hidden. The author invites the reader to walk with him in the streets were no fancy establishments exist and the streets are half deserted, and there is foggy from the sky to the ground. The author does not give any information about the overwhelming question, but he spends a lot of time talking about the fog. Then, he talks about the time and that you will have time to prepare a face when a person goes into a social situation, you prepare to be polite, and you put up that persona that you are genuine in which you will be speaking and acting and to be a good sport even though you may not want to be there around people you do not like, but you still put your cheerful face on. “And time for all the works and days of hands/ That life and drop a question on …show more content…
Alfred Prufrock,” by T. S. Eliot, line 10 says, “To lead you to an overwhelming question . . .” (Eliot). Line 93 says, “To roll it toward some overwhelming question,” (Eliot). In the two lines, it seems that the “overwhelming question” to which the poem alludes is that Prufrock wants to propose to a person of the opposite sex, take a woman’s hand in marriage or question her love for him, but Prufrock has problems expressing his feelings as well as having a lot of problems communicating with women. On the other hand, I believe deep down in his consciousness he feels that this woman would criticize or reject him for attempting to make the right decision on his behalf, which makes it difficult to break the ice with the opposite sex and engage in a meaningful
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is about a timid and downcast man in search of meaning, of love, and in search of something to break from the dullness and superficiality which he feels his life to be. Eliot lets us into Prufrock's world for an evening, and traces his progression of emotion from timidity, and, ultimately, to despair of life. He searches for meaning and acceptance by the love of a woman, but falls miserably because of his lack of self-assurance. Prufrock is a man for whom, it seems, everything goes wrong, and for whom there are no happy allowances. The emptiness and shallowness of Prufrock's "universe" and of Prufrock himself are evident from the very beginning of the poem. He cannot find it in himself to tell the woman what he really feels, and when he tries to tell her, it comes out in a mess. At the end of the poem, he realizes that he has no big role in life.
Before we are introduced to Prufrock himself, we notice that the initial scenes of this poem paint a landscape of apathy. The narrator mentions little about himself initially and beckons that we follow him down into a world without consequence “of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels” (Eliot 6). The later “streets that follow like a tedious argument of insidious intent” set the stage for Prufrock’s dilemma (ibid 9-10). Audrey Cahill says this scene foreshadows “Prufrock’s dialogue with himself, a dialogue which leads nowhere” and that thrusts the reader into meaningless chaos (6). Thus, even if these streets lead to an overwhelming question, the journey down them is rather mind-numbing and unnecessary if the answer gets us nowhere or, worse, merely emphasizes our own desolation. This is compounded by the appearance of a mysterious yellow catlike fog that “curled once about the house and fell asleep” (Eliot 22). Cahill also affirms that becaus...
Eliot, T.S.. "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." An Introduction to Poetry. 13th ed. Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Boston: Little, Brown, 1966. 369-372. Print.
In the poem, “The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock”, the author, T.S. Eliot, uses diction and tone to give the poem life, and to make the character seem as anything but mere fiction. Eliot’s use of diction shows that you should not put things off until later in life because in a flash, you may be nearing the end of your journey of life and lose all opportunity to make yourself happy with the decisions you’ve made over the years. . “ In a minute there is time/for decision and revisions/ which/ in a minute/will reverse” (line 47, 48).
Eliot, T. S. "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" in An Introduction to Literature. Ed Sylvan Barnet et al. 13 ed. New York: Longman. 2004. 937-940.
Eliot, T.S.. "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: Norton, 1996. 2459-2463.
Self-doubt is a constant emotion people in society face at some point in life. Some may struggle with it more than others. It is unavoidable and often ignored. Self-doubt is the lack of confidence in one self and one’s abilities. It is a difficult emotion to face head on and deal with, so it is simply pushed to the back burner. This becomes very dangerous because it has the ability to take over one’s life in the blink of an eye, much like Prufrock in T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock”. The longer Prufrock pushes off confronting his issues, the more powerful his self-doubt becomes. He is afraid to act without knowing the outcome, which is why he is never moving forward, and stepping outside of the box. The poem is based on a man’s inability to act and venture into the real world simply because Prufrock doubts he will ever be able to succeed in life, resulting in him ending up alone and unhappy. This is demonstrated through the alienation Prufrock experiences, the comparison Prufrock
T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock has a plethora of possible interpretations. Many people argue that the poem represents a man who appears to be very introverted person who is contemplating a major decision in his life. This decision is whether or not he will consummate a relationship with someone he appears to have an attraction to or feelings for. People also debate whether or not Prufrock from the poem is typical of people today. While there are a plethora of reasons Prufrock is not typical of people today the main three reasons are he is very reserved, he overthinks most situations and he tries avoid his problems instead of solve them.
In conclusion, after exploring the theme of this poem and reading it for myself, Eliot has created this persona, in industrialised England or somewhere else. A man of low self-esteem, you embark his journey as he struggles with a rational fear of being rejected by a woman. Which gives the reader sympathy to Prufrock, as he lives within his own personal
The title of this poem makes us think that this is going to be a love story with him and a significant other. But these expectations are not fulfilled by the text starting in the introductory epigraph. The title is completely ironic because this is not a “love song”, yet this story is about a depressed, lonely and weak man. The title makes us think that this poem is going to be a serious love song about J. Alfred Prufrock, but instead it is more of a fake love song. From the third line of the poem he shows a man who is unable to communicate, much less sing, “love songs” to anyone.
Eliot, T. S. "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Prufrock, and Other Observations. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. N. pag. Bartleby.com. Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” tells the speaker’s story through several literary devices, allowing the reader to analyze the poem through symbolism, character qualities, and allusions that the work displays. In this way, the reader clearly sees the hopelessness and apathy that the speaker has towards his future. John Steven Childs sums it up well in saying Prufrock’s “chronic indecision blocks him from some important action” (Childs). Each literary device- symbolism, character, and allusion- supports this description. Ultimately, the premise of the poem is Prufrock second guessing himself to no end over talking to a woman, but this issue represents all forms of insecurity and inactivity.
The title informed readers of the manner in which they are supposed to comprehend the text, implying that it will be a representation of J. Alfred Prufrock’s affection. By contrast, the poem’s narrative speaker is never truly able to reconcile his feelings toward the individual he addresses. The narrator begins by asking the receiver of the poem to “go” with him as the “evening is spread out against the sky” (1-2). Beginning with this form of endearment allows the text to draw forward the reader into a situation of romance that quickly disintegrates as the poem progresses. The beauty of the image of the evening walk turns to horror as it morphs into a “patient etherized upon the table” (3). This is representative of the looming inaction of the narrator, as though he, like the evening itself is under some form of anaesthetic that sedates
In T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, he describes a man who is self
The title T. S. Eliot chose for his poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is ironic. Mr. Prufrock does not love anyone, nor does he believe he is loved. He has disdain for the society of which he wishes he were a part, and he believes society views him no differently. The imagery of Mr. Prufrock's thoughts provide the audience a more detailed insight into his character than had Mr. Eliot simply listed Mr. Prufrock's virtues and flaws. Mr. Prufrock is seen as an exaggeration or extreme for the sake of literary commentary, but the world has many Prufrocks in many differing degrees, and T. S. Eliot has made them a little easier to understand.