T. S. Eliot's Life and Accomplishments

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“April is the cruelest month, bleeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.”-T.S Eliot. Eliot was one of the giants of 20th century literature. Eliot helped define the contours of modern poetry in the early 20th century. Most of T.S Eliot’s poems are based on religion. Eliot began to write because of the depression of his father’s death. Eliot’s depression caused him to suffer writer’s block. His depression did not allow him to appreciate the greater things in life, but he still continued to be successful. Eliot, the youngest of seven children, attended Smith Academy when he was sixteen. Eliot was introduced to a girl through one of his friends and later married her, Eliot had many accomplishments (Garraty, John and Mark C. Carnes, eds. Eliot’s Life and Career). Eliot was born on September 26, 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri. Eliot was the son of Henry Rare Eliot and was the youngest of seven children. Eliot’s siblings were already half grown when he was born. Eliot was a poet, critic, and editor and was known as Eliot Thomas Stearn. Eliot attended Smith Academy in his hometown St. Louis, until he was sixteen. During Eliot's last year at Smith, he decided to visit the 1904 St. Louis world’s fair, where he wrote short stories about primitive life for the Smith Academy Record. In 1905, he left for a year at Milton Academy outside of Boston. Eliot was preparing to follow his brother Henry to Harvard (“Building a Legacy”. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little.2006.1062). Eliot departed for Harvard in 1906, where he impressed many classmates with his social ease. In December 1908, Eliot found a book in Harvard library that changed his life. It was the symbolist movement o... ... middle of paper ... ...r is pathetic, as she demands that her lover stay with her and tell her his thoughts. She is unable to communicate herself to the world; she talks about how her friend did everything the right way married, supported her soldier husband, born children yet she is being punished by her body (“A Vast Wasteland.” Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little.2006.1062.) Work Cited Page “A Vast Wasteland”. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2006. 1062 “Building a Legacy”. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2006. 1062 “Final Honors”. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little.2006.1063 Garraty, John and Mark C. Carnes, eds. T.S Eliot’s life and Career. New York: Oxford University Press.1999. http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/eliot/life.htm “Redemption and Reveal”. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little.2006.1062

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