Poetic elements/Literary devices from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” These are the terms you will need to know for this poem: Epigraph Irony Dramatic Monologue Point of view Stream of consciousness Simile v. Metaphor Setting Ellipses Symbols Alliteration Antithesis Repetition Asyndeton Polysyndeton Personification Metonymy (type of metaphor) Allusion Carpe diem

Epigraph Phrase, quote, or poem that is set at the BEGINNING of a document, usually before it begins. Example - stanza from Dante’s Inferno

Irony A twist between the expected meaning or outcome and what really happens. Example – Prufrock thinks he has plenty of time, but in continuing to focus on all his time, he is actually running out of time

Dramatic Monologue A long address in which a character shares his/her thoughts or feelings Example - Prufrock is telling us about his indecision and all the feelings he has about asking out a lady

Point of View The “eyes” through which the story is being told. Example – First person – J. Alfred Prufrock gives us his point of view

Stream of Consciousness A narrative device used to express the multitude of ideas and feelings going through a person’s head at the same time – lacks the organization and structure of other pieces Example - Prufrock’s thinking is very fragmented. He goes from one subject to the next.

Simile v. Metaphor Comparing two UNLIKE objects – Simile uses “like”, “as”, “than”, or “so” – Metaphor does NOT Example – Simile - “The streets follow like a tedious argument.” Metaphor – “The streets are a tedious argument.”

Setting The time, place, and situation of a piece. Remember, time can be “winter”, place can be “country”, and situation can be a “wedding”. It does not mean “January 14, 2008, Baltimore, Maryland.” Example – Industrialized city – Prufrock lives “in the margins” and observes rather than truly living life.

Ellipses Punctuation … used to indicate an incomplete thought Example – “To lead you to an overwhelming question…” (Some say Eliot uses the ellipses to indicate emotional crisis)

Symbols One thing stands for something deeper. This can be an item, color, name… Example – the yellow fog indicates cowardice or fear

Alliteration Repetition of the same beginning SOUND (not necessarily the same letter) Example – Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap, and seeing that it was a soft October night…

Antithesis Direct opposite introduced in the same sentence for contrasting effect – love is the antithesis of selfishness Example – “And there will be time…” Whole stanza is full of antithesis

Repetition A phrase, word, or line that is said multiple times for dramatic effect or to ensure it is remembered or emphasized Example – “In the room the women come and go talking of Michelangelo.”

Asyndeton Conjunctions (FANBOYS) are omitted from a list to create the effect of speeding up the rhythm Examples – “A government of the people, for the people, by the people…” “…after the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor…”

Polysyndeton Using several conjunctions in close succession to either slow down the rhythm, speed it up, show childlike excitement, grief, or a sense of being overwhelmed Examples – “…took the son, and took the garment, and took the wedge of gold, and took the sons, and took the daughters…” He ran and jumped and laughed for joy. Here and there and everywhere.

Metonymy (Type of Metaphor) A type of metaphor where a reference is made to something associated with the meaning. Example – “Hollywood” – entertainment industry “the Man” – the government “Washington” – the government “coffee spoons” – dull, boring, repetitive

Personification Giving “life” to an object Example – The trees waved as I walked by. In Prufrock – the yellow fog definitely “comes to life”

Allusion A reference to another piece of literature, time period, piece of art, person…you MUST know OUTSIDE the piece it’s in Example – Michaelangelo, John the Baptist, Dante’s Inferno, Lazarus…

Carpe diem Seize the day!!! Does Prufrock “seize the day”? If not, what is the message in the poem?

Abstract Topics to Consider Time Anxiety Paralysis Fragmentation Modernism Humanity Technology Despair Come up with your own ORIGINAL idea

One way to analyze the devices, is to make a four column chart Devices/TermsQuote Abstract Idea/Topic Connection to Meaning

“The Love Song…” Device to Meaning Chart EXAMPLE Devices/TermsQuote 1.Asyndeton and Polysyndeton 1.“And would it have been worth it, after all, Would it have been worth while, After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets, After the novels, after the teacups, after the skits that trail along the floor-” Abstract Idea/Topic Connection to Meaning 1.Time1.Throughout the poem, the speaker explores whether his decision to approach a woman would be “worth it” or if this encounter would end in rejection. As the speaker explores his decision he expresses the thought that “there will be time” while simultaneously feeling as if he is running out of time. T.S. Eliot builds this feeling of time both moving quickly and standing still by having the speaker use an asyndeton and a polysyndeton in the same stanza as the speaker lists all the images that could come from his life with this women if he does bring himself to the “overwhelming question.” Listing these images first by separating them with “and” and then by separating them with merely a comma gives the reader/listener a feeling first of the long length of life and time and then of the quick passing of time, thus signaling the paradox the speaker feels. “There will be time” but not enough.

Then choose your strongest example and write a paragraph - Connection to Meaning T.S. Eliot builds an anxious feeling of time both moving quickly and standing still by having the speaker use a polysyndeton and an asyndeton in the same stanza. Throughout the poem, the speaker explores whether his decision to approach a woman would be “worth it” or if this encounter would end in rejection. As the speaker explores his decision, he expresses the thought that “there will be time” while simultaneously feeling as if he is running out of time. He ponders whether it “would it have been worth it, after all, Would it have been worth while, After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets, After the novels, after the teacups, after the skits that trail along the floor-” The listing of images shows his building apprehension and emotional turmoil as brings himself to the “overwhelming question” – should he approach her. Listing these images first by separating them with “and” and then by separating them with merely a comma gives the reader/listener a feeling first of the long length of life and time and then abruptly captures the feeling of the quick passing of time, thus signaling the paradox the speaker feels. “There will be time” but not enough. The reader connects to this dual feeling and the angst it creates.

Homework Choose a different device and connect it to meaning 1.Find as many devices as you can within the poem – ANNOTATE, ANNOTATE, ANNOTATE 2.(Optional) Create a chart to organize your ideas. This will be especially useful when you have an entire essay to write. 3.Choose a device you feel comfortable analyzing and “digging” deep into the purpose, meaning, and use of. 4.Write a lengthy, organized paragraph expressing these ideas.