The Waste Land T.S. Eliot

Born in St. Louis in 1888 Moved to London just before WWI; eventually became a British subject New Criticism Scholar (languages, philosophy) Married Vivienne Haigh- Wood in 1915, but the marriage was not a success –Neurotic : worked at Lloyds Bank in London Nobel Prize

“The Waste Land” first published in 1922 The manuscript was heavily edited by Ezra Pound: original drafts contained twice as much text as in the published version –“il miglior fabbro” Hailed as the most important Modernist poem; still highly influential Always consider the poem in the context of post-War Europe

“The Waste Land” Themes Post WWI-Europe: –fragmented, destroyed Sexuality –frustration, repression Globalization –Technological advancements, communication –Multiple voices Comments on the problems of modern society –“Turning and turning in the widening gyre” –Lacks spirituality, lacks community

Final thoughts on “The Waste Land” Why is the modern world a waste land? The Loss of God –No resurrection –The corpse that doesn’t sprout –“He who was living is now dead” (V, ) The Failure of Love –Numerous examples

Final thoughts on “The Waste Land” The form of the poem reflects and reproduces the sense of modernity as chaos, through its: – ruptures and disjunctions, –juxtapositions of past greatness & modern squalor –the "litter" of allusions, high art, pop songs, religious music & din of city streets, etc…