🔴 1. Theory of Impersonality
Eliot emphasized that poetry should be impersonal, detaching the poet’s personal emotions from the work. In his essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent," he argued that the poet’s personal experience should not dictate the poem’s emotional effect. Instead, the poet acts as a medium through which tradition and artistic sensibility are channeled.
🔴 2. Objective Correlative
Eliot coined the term objective correlative to describe a set of objects, situations, or events that evoke a particular emotion in the reader. He believed that emotions in poetry should not be directly expressed but conveyed through concrete imagery and symbols, creating a more universal and effective emotional impact.
🔴 3. Tradition and the Individual Talent
Eliot proposed that writers must understand and engage with the literary tradition to create significant work. He saw the literary canon as a simultaneous order, where every new work affects and is affected by existing works. This interrelation creates a sense of continuity in literature.
🔴 4. Historical Sense
Eliot emphasized the importance of a historical sense in writers, meaning an awareness of the past and how it informs the present. He believed this sense helps writers situate their work within a broader literary context, contributing to a dialogue across generations.
🔴 5. Dissociation of Sensibility
In his essay on the metaphysical poets, Eliot introduced the idea of the dissociation of sensibility, arguing that after the 17th century, poets lost the ability to unify thought and feeling. He admired poets like John Donne, who could blend intellectual ideas with emotional depth.
🔴 6. Criticism as an Art Form
Eliot viewed criticism as a creative act, equal in importance to creative writing. He believed that the critic's role is not to judge but to illuminate the work’s meaning and significance. His critical essays, particularly those in The Sacred Wood, showcase this approach.
🔴 7. Influence on Modernism
Eliot’s criticism and his own poetry, especially The Waste Land, are central to the modernist movement. His focus on fragmentation, mythic references, and the breakdown of traditional forms influenced generations of writers.
🔴 8. Classical and Religious Themes
Later in his career, Eliot’s criticism leaned towards a preference for classical forms and Christian orthodoxy. His essays in For Lancelot Andrewes and The Idea of a Christian Society reflect his belief in the moral and spiritual responsibilities of literature.
🔴 9. Concept of the Poet-Critic
Eliot saw the ideal critic as a practicing poet, someone who understands the creative process and can offer insight based on personal experience. This view informed much of his critical writing, blending creative insight with analytical rigor.
Eliot’s critical theories continue to influence literary studies, particularly in the realms of New Criticism and modernist criticism. His emphasis on textual analysis and the autonomy of the text laid the groundwork for later movements that prioritize close reading.
🔴 Major Essays and Collections
1. The Sacred Wood: Essays on Poetry and Criticism (1920)
- Tradition and the Individual Talent
- Hamlet and His Problems
- The Metaphysical Poets
- The Function of Criticism
2. Homage to John Dryden (1924)
3. For Lancelot Andrewes: Essays on Style and Order (1928)
4. Dante (1929)
5. Selected Essays, 1917-1932 (1932)
- Tradition and the Individual Talent
- The Metaphysical Poets
- Shakespeare and the Stoicism of Seneca
- Andrew Marvell
- John Dryden: The Poet, The Dramatist
6. The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism (1933)
(Based on his lectures at Harvard)
7. Elizabethan Essays (1934)
8. Essays Ancient and Modern (1936)
9. The Idea of a Christian Society (1939)
10. Notes Towards the Definition of Culture (1948)
11. Poetry and Drama (1951)
12. On Poetry and Poets (1957)
- The Three Voices of Poetry
- Milton
- The Frontiers of Criticism
13. To Criticize the Critic (1965)
- To Criticize the Critic
- The Function of Criticism
- The Frontiers of Criticism
14. Individual Influential Essays
- Tradition and the Individual Talent (1919)
- Hamlet and His Problems (1919)
- The Metaphysical Poets (1921)
- Religion and Literature (1935)
- The Frontiers of Criticism (1956)
Eliot’s critical works cover a range of topics including poetic form, literary tradition, criticism, and the relationship between literature and religion. His essays remain central to modern literary theory.
🔴 Here is a detailed explanation of T.S. Eliot's major critical works, focusing on the essential concepts, theories, and their significance:
1. Tradition and the Individual Talent (1919)
Eliot argues that a poet must engage with the literary tradition to produce meaningful work. He defines tradition not as a static inheritance but as a dynamic relationship where new works alter the perception of past works and vice versa.
Eliot emphasizes the impersonal nature of poetry, where the poet’s personal emotions and experiences should not dominate the work. The poet acts as a catalyst for creating emotions through the poem.
This essay introduces key ideas that influenced New Criticism, such as focusing on the text rather than the author's biography. It also highlights Eliot’s belief in literary continuity and historical awareness.
2. The Metaphysical Poets (1921)
Eliot praises the metaphysical poets, especially John Donne, for their ability to combine thought and feeling, creating what he calls a unified sensibility. He contrasts this with the dissociation of sensibility that he believes occurred in later poetry, particularly after the 17th century.
Eliot suggests that modern poets need to recover this unity of thought and emotion to produce great poetry.
This concept became influential in analyzing poetry, emphasizing how intellectual and emotional elements should coexist in poetic expression.
3. Hamlet and His Problems (1919)
Eliot critiques Shakespeare’s Hamlet, arguing that the play is an artistic failure because it lacks an objective correlative—a set of objects or situations that evoke the intended emotion.
The term objective correlative refers to a technique where emotions are expressed through concrete imagery and situations rather than direct expression.
The idea of the objective correlative has become a fundamental tool in literary analysis, especially in modernist criticism, emphasizing the importance of indirect expression.
4. The Function of Criticism (1923)
Eliot argues that the primary function of criticism is to provide an informed evaluation of literature, free from personal bias. He criticizes subjective and impressionistic criticism, advocating for a more structured and analytical approach.
This essay aligns with the principles of New Criticism, encouraging close reading and objective analysis of texts.
5. The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism (1933)
Based on Eliot’s lectures at Harvard, this work explores the relationship between poetry and criticism. He distinguishes between the poet’s personal use of poetry as a means of self-expression and the critic’s role in evaluating its broader significance.
Eliot’s views on the critic’s role as a mediator between the poet and the audience underscore the importance of analytical criticism in understanding literature.
6. Notes Towards the Definition of Culture (1948)
Eliot discusses the relationship between culture, religion, and society, emphasizing that culture cannot exist without a religious foundation. He advocates for a hierarchical society where cultural elites preserve and transmit cultural values.
This work reflects Eliot’s conservative views on culture and has implications for understanding the role of literature in shaping societal values.
7. The Frontiers of Criticism (1956)
Eliot critiques contemporary criticism, emphasizing that criticism should remain within its limits and not try to supplant creative work. He warns against overinterpretation and the critic’s attempt to find hidden meanings beyond the text.
This essay reinforces Eliot’s belief in the autonomy of the text and the importance of textual analysis, aligning with New Criticism principles.
Significance for UGC NET JRF:
- Eliot’s critical works are pivotal for understanding New Criticism, Modernism, and the objective analysis of texts.
- Concepts like tradition, impersonality, objective correlative, and dissociation of sensibility are frequently referenced in questions on literary theory.
- His emphasis on close reading and the autonomy of the text aligns with key UGC NET topics on literary criticism and theory.
- Understanding his conservative views on culture and religion helps in contextualizing his later works and their influence on cultural criticism.
Focusing on these major works will help in tackling questions on literary theory, criticism, and Eliot’s influence on modernist literature.
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