Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, straying from the earlier romanticizing of 19th century existence, modernist poets, including T.S Eliot, attempted to critique the lifestyle of early 20th century western civilization. In particular, the paper looks at how Eliot's poems, "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" and "The Wasteland's The Burial of the Dead", depict the negative perception that Eliot had of his society. It examines how, through both the verse and poetic techniques such as fragmentation, Eliot conveys his personal belief of the demise of the upper and lower social classes of 'modern' society through criticism, prophecy and the re-examination of individual existence.

From the Paper:

"In 1915, Eliot published 'Prufrock and other observations', immediately suggesting the critical nature that his poetry was to undertake. Eliot's poetry is a compilation of observations and the manner in which he collaborated his poetry is further indication into the criticism that Eliot had of his society. Throughout 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock', this technique of criticism elaborated by the use of fragmentation is evident through the absence of a poetic flow and continual themes that carry through the entire poem. This fragmentation is further portrayed through reference to several unrelated art and literature figures such as Michelangelo, Dante and Lazarus and unrelated passages of thought such as the reference to mermaids at the end of the poem The common perception of Eliot's writing style being a 'collage' of thoughts and opinions is central to both his personal addition to his poetry and to the Modernist perception. "

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