MAE601-eL10

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2 M.A.English Literary Criticism and Critical Approaches- I Course Code: MAE 601 Semester: First e-Lesson: 8 SLM Unit: 10 https://www.google.com/search?q=Greek+theatre www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

T.S. Eliot OBJECTIVES 33 Student will be introduced to T.S. Eliot’s INTRODUCTION Biography In this unit the student will be able to Student will be introduced to T.S. Eliot as a poet understand T. S. Eliot and a critic Student will be able to understand T. S. Eliot’s Student will be introduced to T.S.Eliot’s Tradition criticism & Individual Talent Student will also be able to understand T. S. Eliot’s Tradition & Individual Talent www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) INSTITUTE OF DAIlSlTAriNgChEt aArNeDreOsNeLrvINeEd LwEiAthRNCIUN-GIDOL

TOPICS TO BE COVERED 4  T. S. Eliot’s Biography T. S. Eliot as a poet and a critic T. S.Eliot’s Tradition & Individual Talent www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

T.S.ELIOT 5 www.cuidol.in T.S. Eliot | Christian History All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-10 (MAE601)

T.S.ELIOT 6 All right are reserved with CU-IDOL T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) was the most towering and dominating man of letters of twentieth century. He was a versatile genius who during his long span of productive activity achieved distinction as a poet, playwright journalist and critic.  Eliot stands in the long line of poet critics beginning with Ben Johnson, and including such names as Dryden, Johnson, Coleridge and Matthew Arnold. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601)

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 7 . www.cuidol.in Tradition and the individual talent neo All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-10 (MAE601)

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 8 . www.cuidol.in Tradition and the individual talent neo All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-10 (MAE601)

ABOUT THE ESSAY 9  \"Tradition and Individual Talent\" (1919) is one of the popular essays in literary criticism. The essay is divided into three parts. In the first part, the conception of tradition is given. The second part deals with Eliot's theory of the impersonality of poetry. The third part summarizes Eliot's views given in the earlier two parts. The views of Eliot on the importance of Tradition and Individual Talent can be discussed as follows. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) Tradition and the Individual Talent ... vaidehi09.blogspot.com All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

ABOUT THE ESSAY 10  Introduction : In the first half of his essay \"Tradition and the Individual Talent, Eliot has expressed his views on the relationship between tradition of the writers of the past and the individual talent of the poet. These views can be reproduced as follows. Meaning of the Tradition :'By \"tradition\", Eliot mans the poets of the past as a whole. However, Eliot has used the term in a wider sense. It means more than a literary tradition. In addition, it refers to social, historical, economic and cultural factors which influence the poet. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 11 Dynamic Nature of Tradition: According to Eliot, tradition does not mean the mere copy of the writing of the generations of authors in the past. Tradition cannot be inherited but obtained by hard work. It can be obtained by those who have the historical sense.  The person who has the historical sense feels that the whole literature of Europe from the ancient time of Rome to his own century forms one continuous literary tradition. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 12 Dynamic Nature of Tradition: He is conscious of his relation with these writers of the past. Eliot's conception of Tradition is dynamic and not static This means that it is never fix but changes constantly. The writer (or poet) in the present must seek guidance from the past. The past guides the present i.e. the new work and the present alters and modifies the past i.e. tradition. For example, great poets like Virgil, Dante and Shakespeare have added something to the literary tradition. The addition guided future generation of poets in writing poetry. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 13 Importance of Both—Tradition & Individual Talent:- According to Eliot, tradition has typical function. The works of the past are judged by the new works of art. The purpose is not seen whether the new works are better or worse than the works of the past. The comparison is reciprocal. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 14 Importance of Both—Tradition & Individual Talent:- The past (tradition) helps to understand the present and the present (individual talent) throws light on the past. Thus, the comparison reveals the importance of both, tradition and the individual talent. Both are 'valid' and 'valuable' in their own ways. However, it is their combination ('blend') which can crate a good work of art. In fact, 'tradition' and the 'individual talent' go or should go hand in hand. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 15 Sense of the Tradition & Its Importance: Eliot also speaks about the sense of tradition. It does not mean that the poet in the present should try to know the past as a whole. Actually, only the significant from it should be acquired. The poet should not know only the authors whom he admires. On the contrary, he should know all small and great poets of all the Ages. Similarly, in order to know the tradition, the poet must judge critically what the main trends are and what are not. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 16 Sense of the Tradition & Its Importance: Conclusion : Thus, Eliot has given his views on the nature of the tradition of the past authors and its relationship with an individual poet. Eliot concluded that it is the sense of tradition which is more important than the personality of an individual artist. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 17 Impersonality of Poetry:- Eliot says that in poetry, the emotion of the poet is not essentially present. He criticizes Wordsworth's views that poetry has its origin in emotions recollected in tranquility. In fact, poetry is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality. Art of poetry is completely depersonalized. Honest criticism is directed not on the poet but on the poetry. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 18 Analogy of a Catalyst:- Eliot, then, explains the poetic process with an analogy of a catalyst. According to him, the poet must be impersonal like a scientist. The important thing is not the personality of the poet but his sense of Tradition. The poet must forget his personal joys and sorrows and get absorbed in acquiring a sense of tradition Thus, the poet's personality is merely a medium. To explain this fact, Eliot uses a fine analogy which can be stated as follows. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 19 Analogy of a Catalyst:- The poetic process is just like a catalytic chemical process. There is a jar which contains oxygen and sulphur dioxide. When a thin filament of platinum' is put into the jar, the two gases combine to form sulphurous acid. This combination takes place only in the presence of the piece of platinum. However, the metal (platinum) does not undergo any change during the chemical process. The combination of the gases too does not bear any trace of platinum. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 20 Analogy of a Catalyst:- In the poetic process too, the poet's mind functions like a catalytic agent. It combines the emotions and experiences into poetry. However. like the piece of platinum, it remains free from the trace of the combination. In tile same way, the new combination (poetry) does not containing trace of the poet's mind. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 21 Poetry : escape From Personality:- The above discussion shows that Eliot opposes the Romantic theory of poetry as self-expression. For Eliot, poetry is not merely the expression of personality of personality. Thus, the subject-wise view of poetry stressed by the Romantic poets is replaced by the impersonality in art. Eliot says : \" Poetry is not turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not expression of personality, but an escape from personality\". www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

TRADITION & INDIVIDUAL TALENT 22 Poetic Emotions Are Refined:- Finally, Eliot says that the emotions of poetry differ from the personal emotions of poet. The poet's personal emotions may- be simple or crude. But the emotions of his poetry are complex and refined. It is not necessary that the poet should express his own emotions. Even the emotions which are not personally experienced by the poet can serve the purpose of poetry. Conclusion : Thus Eliot has given his famous theory of impersonality in art or poetry. It remains one of the better- known theories of Eliot. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) T.S. Eliot Stock Pictures All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 23 www.cuidol.in MCQ For IPCE/Inter for Nov 2019 attempt All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-10 (MAE601)

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 24 1. When was T.S. Eliot born? c) Study of Criticism a) 1888 d) Study of Philosophers b) Study of Genre 2. When T.S. Eliot died? c) 1950 a) 1955 d) 1965 b) 1945 3. When was Tradition & Individual Talent was published? c) 1918 a) 1921 d) 1919 b) 1922 4.What is conclusion of T.S. Eliot’s Tradition & Individual Talent? a) Imitation C—Impersonal views B—Personification D—Impersonality in art or poetry Answers: 1.a) 2. d) 3. d) 4. d) Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL www.cuidol.in

SUMMARY 25 Finally, Eliot says that the emotions of poetry differ from the personal emotions of poet. The poet's personal emotions may- be simple or crude. But the emotions of his poetry are complex and refined. It is not necessary that the poet should express his own emotions. Even the emotions which are not personally experienced by the poet can serve the purpose of poetry. Conclusion : Thus Eliot has given his famous theory of impersonality in art or poetry. It remains one of the better-known theories of Eliot. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) Summary Writing All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 26 www.cuidol.in FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions ... All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-10 (MAE601)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 27 1.Q What does T. S. Eliot mean by Tradition and Historical Sense in his Tradition and Individual Talent? 2. Q What is the relationship between “tradition” and “the individual talent,” according to T. S. Eliot? 3. Q Critically sum up Eliot’s essay “Tradition and Individual Talent”. Do you agree with him? 4. Q Discuss critically the role of T. S. Eliot as a critic. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions ... All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

REFERENCES 28 David Daiches : Critical Approaches to Literature, 2nd ed., Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 2001. M. H. Abrams : A Glossary of Literary Terms, Singapore: Harcourt Asia Pvt. Ltd., 2000. Rene Wellek : A History of Modern Criticism: 1750-1950, Vols. I-IV, London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. M.A.R. Habib : A History of Literary Criticism: From Plato to the Present, Oxford: Blackwell, 2005. Patricia Waugh : Literary Theory & Criticism: An Oxford Guide, Delhi: OUP, 2006. M.S. Nagarajan : English Literary Criticism & Theory: An Introductory History, Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 2006. www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

29 THANK YOU www.cuidol.in Unit-10 (MAE601) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL