Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Essay Stream of...

Stream of Consciousness in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a uniquely styled piece of literature. In this poem Eliot employs a literary method of writing called stream of consciousness. This is a difficult method to grasp outside of the literary genre to attempt to understand it within the context of the higher language of poetry can further confuse readers. Stream of consciousness is simply how our brain thinks. Perhaps as the teacher reads through this poem we hear the word Mermaid. Our minds see the singing mermaids on the rocks in Jason and the Argonauts and then jump to Peter Pan and from Peter Pan to Mary Poppins. The idea of stream of consciousness†¦show more content†¦His pen wanders and jumps from place to place with no apparent pattern. I think this style of writing is also a reflection of Eliots feelings about the time. Eliot was more of a Modernist than Victorian poet and as such held to beliefs like: there is no higher power in the universe, man is alone on this planet to govern his own affairs, everyone is truly alone, there is no unity, no support, for we live in a godless heartless world (Stacey Donohue). The floating, confusing, jumbled mix of emotions and directions in this poem mirrors the modernist image of society. Though he was a modernist I believe this poem is a reflection of what he saw during the Victorian period. He says, Do I dare/Disturb the universe? (Eliot, Longman 2419 ll. 45-46). He speaks here, not of the universe as you and I think -- a celestial body -- but of the universe in the sense of the Victorian period itself. The world where everything is a mask of propriety, manners, and tradition; this can be seen in his reference to the popular Victorian custom of afternoon tea, Before the taking of tea and toast. (Eliot, Longman 2419 l. 34). A word or simple action could topple a system as balanced as this one and Prufrock struggles with the question, Do I dare? (Eliot, Longman 2419 l. 38). Does he dare to disturb the Victorian culture with what he has seen? His struggle is represented by the yellow smoke/fog. This representsShow MoreRelatedThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock Essay1362 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock launched T.S. Eliot’s statu s as the influential poet of the twentieth century. The poem narrates the self-analysis of a man, Prufrock, who exposes the void and soulless quality of the modern world through his experiences. The morbid outlook of his life stems from his inability to find meaning in his existence. He is entrapped in a constant cycle of overwhelmingly negative emotions -- anxiety, hopelessness, and despair -- haunted by his fears and regrets. Prufrock’sRead MoreThe Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock Essay4201 Words   |  17 PagesThe Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock T. S. ELIOT Questions for Discussion 1. How does the epigraph from Dante’s Inferno help Eliot comment on the modern world inâ€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†? What does it tell us about the setting of this poem? How is Montefeltro’s miscalculation related to the poem? Prufrock laments that the mermaids will not sing to him. Prufrocks dilemma represents the inability to live a meaningful existence in the modern world.[24] McCoy and Harlan wrote For manyRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words   |  14 Pagesto the â€Å"New world†. - Anglo (New England) settlers’ books, sermons, journals, narratives, and poetry Native American / American Indian oral literature / oral tradition creation storiesï ¼Ë†Ã¨ µ ·Ã¦ º Ã§ ¥Å¾Ã¨ ¯ Ã¯ ¼â€° trickster talesï ¼Ë†Ã¦  ¶Ã¤ ½Å"å‰ §Ã¨â‚¬â€¦Ã¤ ¼  Ã¥ ¥â€¡Ã¯ ¼â€° rituals / ceremoniesï ¼Ë†Ã¥â€¦ ¸Ã¤ » ªÃ¯ ¼â€° songs / chantsï ¼Ë†Ã¦â€º ²Ã¨ ¯ Ã¯ ¼â€° Anglo Settlers’ Writings Highly religious and pragmatic - John Smith, founder of Jamestown, Virginia; Pocahontas - John Winthrop, â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity†: â€Å"†¦ We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all peopleRead MoreStudy Guide Literary Terms7657 Words   |  31 Pagesgreed, or envy. Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning 4. allusion- A reference in one literary work to a character or theme found in another literary work. T. S. Eliot, in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock alludes (refers) to the biblical figure John the Baptist in the line Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter, . . . In the New Testament, John the Baptists head was presented to King Herod on a platter