Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written in a response of Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to analyse one poem written against the greatness of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Poem :-
Who? Who? Who?
Mahatma. Sorry no.
Truth. Non-violence.
Stop it. Enough taboo.
That trash is long overdue.
You need a thorough review.
Your tax-free salt stimulated our wounds
We gonna sue you, the Congress shoe.
Gone half-cuckoo, you called us names,
You dubbed us pariahs—“Harijans”
goody-goody guys of a bigot god
Ram Ram Hey Ram—boo.
Don’t ever act like a holy saint.
we can see through you, impure you.
Remember, how you dealt with your poor wife.
But, they wrote your books, they made your life.
They stuffed you up, the imposter true.
And sew you up—filled you with virtue
and gave you all that glossy deeds
enough reason we still lick you.
You knew, you bloody well knew,
Caste won’t go, they wouldn’t let it go.
It haunts us now, the way you do
with a spooky stick, a eerie laugh or two.
But they killed you, the naked you,
your blood with mud was gooey goo.
Sadist fool, you killed your body
many times before this too.
Bapu, bapu, you big fraud, we hate you.
The poem written after reading Sylvia Plath’s, "Daddy". Here is the poem from which the poem Karamchand Gandhi inspired. :-
Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written in a response of Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. In this blog i am going to discuss some of the important frames which i noted while watching movie. And also here i put a video of entire movie.
About Charlie Chaplin :-
Full name of Charlie Chaplin is Sir Charlie Spencer Chaplin Jr. kBE. He was born on 16 April 1889, at London, United Kingdom. And died on 25 December 1977, at Monoir De Ban, Switzerland. He is concider as a genius. He has lot many skills like he was Comic actor, filmmaker, and composer. Who rose to fame in the era of silent film. And became known as a most important figure in the history of the film industry, and became Worldwide icon.
In 1919, he started making films, his first film was, The Kid (1921), then he wrote films like A Woman of Paris(1923), The Gold Rush (1925),The Circus (1928), and The Great dictator (1940), which is a satire on Adolf Hitler. He also received many awards like, Honorary academic award, also his film 'The great dictator' ranked on lists of the greatest films of all time. Now let me discuss here about his another well known film titled, The Modern Times. Which is also satire on upper class, and industrial institutions. And which shows some problems like, rich - poor, disadvantages of industrialization, power and position, political issues etc.
About the movie : The modern Times :-
The Modern Times is American silent film. Which was starred by Charlie Chaplin and released in 1936. The film is regarded as a last great silent film. Here i want to discuss it in a context of, 1) 'The setting of 20th century, 2) Impact of industrialization, 3) Rich - Poor division, 5) Mechanical Life, 6) Concept of Welfare State, 7) Political problems etc. With the reference of important Frames from movie.
When the movie begins, we find that there is a setting of factory, the movie centered around luckless factory worker. Which role was played by Charlie Chaplin himself. In the factory we find huge kind of machines in a amount of hundreds. And similar poor labours who are working so hard. Here we find the impact of industrialization. Let me explain my points with the help of some important Frames.
1) Clock as a Frame :-
When we see this frame, there is a clock which symbolises 20th century or we can say modern time. The quote, "A story of industry, of individual enterprise - humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness." Is also proved this thing. The frame is also symbolise workers condition, they all are like clock, their schedule work according their master's order.
2) Ship and People :-
Ship + people = Sheeple
The first frame is of sheep and second is of crowded people. If we see this, we easily find that both the frames looks similar. Ship is a animal who mainly walk with crowd. They don't have their own personal choice or senses. Here, People of modern time also reflected similar. They are also walk in crowd, which means it is easy to mislead them towards wrong path. Because they also not have sense, and choices. For this people, the word SHEEPLE is used. SHEEP + PEOPLE = SHEEPLE. This frame is not only reflecting modern time but also reflect Universal truth. That people always with mass. And those who get succeed to make their way different, can only achieve the great and success. And make their space in history.
3) Monitor and Boss :-
The frame symbolize that mind and money is more important than physical ability. There is a monitor who has strong muscles, like body guard, but still working under the boss who is not such capable. Also we see that money is everything, those who have more money, will rule over more.
The poster, which is of Capitalist system. This poster is also related with this point. It shows Capitalism in society. This poster is by "Industrial workers of the world" in 1912. Which shows that how money and those who has money, only can handle or we can say rule over other all.
4) frame of Puzzle :-
In this frame, the owner of the company,playing puzzle game. Which symbolize the effect of industrialisation. That how owners play game with their workers and puzzling them. For example, not giving them enough salary, less salary - High labor. Also the frame symbolise difference of rich and poor. That how rich are puzzle and fixing the poors according to their ease.
5) Chaplin is in Machine :-
This frame symbolize mechanical life during modern time. People are living in between the machines and working also like machines.
6) No Privacy :-
In this frame, the tramp is in the washroom and through C. C. T. V, his boos scold him to go back for work. Which shows that even in private places, workers are not free. And they have no place to whom they can concider their private place. Everything is controlling by superior.
6) Automatic Food Machine :-
Automatic food machine is use to eat without any efforts. In the movie, the factory owner thinking to purchase it because of to save the time of workers which they are spending in eating food. And that in time he expecte more work from them. This shows cruelty of owners who thinks thats workers are not more than machine. May be that's why they concider as a hands. There is one more scene in which we found, they experiment the machine on Charlie, this shows that there is no value of workers life. And easily they experiment on them anything, without thinking about their pain or suffering.
7) Frame of Flag :-
We find that there is a scene where co accidentally Charlie became a communist leader of Marxist group, and mass of people started following him. He has one flag in his hand. The movie is black and white, so we can not able to recognize colour of flag. But if we see flag of Marxist, it is always coloured in dark red and it has a Symbols of sickle and hammer. Which is a Union workers. And the raily we see is symbolize their strike and problems. And protest against that. We also found such marxist theme or symbol in Bollywood movies. For example, film Coolie.
8) After the death of Female Protagonist's father :-
After Ellen's Father's death, we found that two of his young daughter sent to the orphan home by police men. Which shows some sheds of welfare state.
9) news paper Headlines :-
By this headlines we are able to assume that, at that time when the film was created, may political conditions were not so good and strikes and riots are commonly happened. Which influence Chaplin and come out into the film also.
10) Recommendation letter :-
By this letter, we are able to compare society of that time and of present time. Just by the recommendation letter by police officer, Charlie get job in various places. People are easily trust the letter. But when it comes to present, we found that people are not easily trust anyone. Even in present time if have that letter, he find difficulty in getting job. Which reflects distrustfulness.
11) Chaplin's dream :-
In this scene, Ellen and Chaplin sit out of someone's house, and one couple come out of that house, soon after that, Chaplin dreamed of having house and all the pleasure which upper and middle class people enjoy. Which shows the dream of poor of being rich and a dream of having necessaries. Here again we found class differences. The main dream of Chaplin is having enough food. Which means, the main dream of poor people is to get enough food.
12)Department Mall :-
Today's mall is described as that time's Department Malls. Which again symbolize that middle class also satisfied their desire of living luxury life by visiting such kind of department mall. In movie also we find female protagonist living her desire.
13)House of Charlie :-
House of Ellen and Charlie symbolize poverty in society. Even in a time of Industrialisation. Where lots of industries, factories are emerged and poor and middle class people started becoming rich because of Industrialisation. There is one class, who still living in poverty just like Ellen and Charlie.
14) Dance :-
Ellen and Charlie used to dance in cafe or club, in movie. Dance is something to Which we connecte with pleasure. But Ellen and Charlie Dance to earn, to survive. Which symbolize that even a pleasure is not free. But now its turns into the occupation.
15) Police Arrested The Girl :-
At last when police try to arrest a female protagonist, it reflecte the tone of "Happiness was but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain". Means happiness is always temporary.
16) Last Frame :-
Last frame is a symbol of hope. When both the protagonist walking onto the endless road and there is a mountains front of them. May be here director wants to say that, hope should not end. It is eternal, and might there is a heven behind the mountain. Means happiness is few steps ahead. We have to walk. The message which Charlie wants to convey.
Conclusion :-
Here i discussed some of the important frames, about the director, about the film, And also put a video of a movie.if you find any other frame in movie, write about that in comment section.
Here is the link of another movie by Charlie Chaplin, "The Great Dictator". Analysis and Framd study of that.click here to read
Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written in a response of Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to discuss about Virginia Woolf, Movie Vita and Virginia, Orlando : A Biography, and some of the question, with my point of views.
Introduction / Life of Virginia Woolf :-
The full name of Virginia Woolf is Adeline Virginia Woolf. She was born on 25 January, 1882, and died on 28 March 1941. She was an English writer and known as a pioneer in use of 'stream of Consciousness' as a narrative device. She is also consider as one of the most important modernist 20th century author. She started writing processionally in 1900. She wrote many famous works, some are the Novels like,
1. The Voyage out. (First novel)
2. Mrs. Dolloway
3. To the lighthouse
4. Orlando : A Biography
5. The years, etc.
She also wrote dramas, for example, 'Freshwater', 'A Room of One's Own' and some more.
Throughout her life, Virginia Woolf was face many troubles, because of her mental illness. She was attempted suicide at least twice. According to Dalsimer (2004), the symptoms by which she suffered was falls under the category of bipolar disorder. And for this, there was no such effective intervention available during her lifetime. In 1941, at the age of 59, She was committed very artistic suicide. She was died by drowning herself in the river Ouse at Lewis.
Movie : vita and Virginia
The movie vita and Virginia is a 2018 biographical romantic drama film. Which was directed by Chanya Button. Main film stars of this film are, 1) Gemma Arterton, 2) Elizabeth Debicki, 3) Isabella Rossellini. The film was adapted from the play, Vita and Virginia by Atkins, performed on 1992. The story of the film based on real love affair among vita Sackville - West and Virginia Woolf. The film was released on 11 September 2018. Running 110 minutes. In United Kingdom and Ireland. Is in the language of English. Here is the video of movie.
Orlando : A Biography
Orlando: A Biography is a famous novel of Virginia Woolf, The novel was first published on 11 October 1928. The book was written on a life of Vita Sackville - west. Woolf's lover and one of the close friend. The book emerge the quest like problems of Women writers, Gender issues, and Transgender studies, etc. Also the book is harsh satire on history of that time.
In the novel, The hero or Protagonist Orlando, is born as a male nobleman in England during the reign of Elizabeth. Who later on under goes a mysterious change of sex at the age of about 30. And lives on for more than 300 years into modern times. The Novel ends on the final stroke of midnight on Thursday, October 11, 1928. The day, when the novel was published.
This are some questions which are related to comparison of film Vita and Virginia and Novel Orlando : A Biography.
1) How far do you feel that Orlando is influenced by Vita and Virginia’s love affair? Does it talk only about that or do you find anything else too?
If we analyze, we find that Orlando in many ways influenced by vita and Virginia's love affair. If we see, we find that Orlando in novel, had many affairs when he was boy. Like with Shasha, Harriet etc. Similarly we can able to interprete that Vita Sackville has masculine qualities in her. And that why she has many affairs with boys as well as girls. Including Virginia Woolf.
The novel is not only about this. But also in this novel Virginia write about struggle of female writers in even a modern time or we can say in 18th century. In novel, when Orlando writing a poem named, 'The Oak Tree'. We analyze that he feel no difficulties, When he was writing as a man. But when turned into the woman and continue writing poem, suddenly he start facing several problems in publishing her work, and fear of acceptance of her poem by popular writers and society etc. This struggle of Orlando, pointing out the struggle of Vita and Virginia in 18th century, as a female writer.
(2) Who do you think is confused about their identity Vita or Virginia? Explain with illustrations.
When we see the film, we find that somewhere both Vita and Virginia facing several problems and struggles in their life. But according to me, Vita seems more Confused about her identity, Or we can also interprete that may she is not confused but somewhere she is not able to accept her identity. During that time, it was not accepted by society that a woman having physical relations with a woman, or a man having relations with man. Even in present time, when law passed out and give permission to this kind of relations,society still feel hesitation of accepting such relationships. If in 21st Century, the condition we find this, then in that time definitely, it was worst. And so we are able to guess that may be Vita was afraid of society. And also Confused about her identity.
But during that time, even the sexual relationship of man are not accepted, then how can Homosexual relationships are allowed by society. When we see the movie we find that, vita is married and having a happy family. And also a mother of two childrens. And still she has lots of extramarital affairs not only with man but with Womans also. We find one scene in movie, in which Vita's mother scolding her because she eloped with a man named Violet. Even after the suicide of Virginia, Vita continue her affairs with many mans and womans. In movie, she try to manage both, her house and family and her own personal physical desire by making homosexual and extramarital affairs.
(3) What is society’s thought about women and identity? Do you agree with them? If Yes then why? If no then why?
In the movie Vita and Virginia and in the novel Orlando : A Biography, in both, society play a role of antagonist for women. They thought women as a weak, dependent personality and believes that men is superior than women. In movie we find the Character of Vita's mother, who represents the society. Who we find in movie, constant telling Vita that what is wrong, what is right, how to behave, what to do, what not to do, manners, and all. In the novel Orlando, we find that this all things reflected very well by Virginia Woolf. When Orlando turned into the Woman, suddenly unexpected problems emerged, also started facing difficulties in writing her poem. Which symbolize that, during that time of Virginia, Society wasn't approve Women writers. And that was the belief that, women can not write such effect as men writers can. Even in the case of Women, society is very strict, for example : when Orlando is man, he has many affairs. But when he change into the Woman, he start thinking about marriage, and when her husband leave for sailing, instead if second marriage, she choose to wait for him.
Society fixed some gender roles, and if any woman dare to disobey that, society concider her as a mannerless or shameless. gender role for women according to society is to look after her home and tack care if her husband and childrens. And everything out of this placed secondly. If she want to earn money, she want to do something out of the box, it will be challenging for her because even after she is earning or dedicating something in society, she should have to handle households along with. But according to society, gender role for men is different. For men they put earning first and later on family, relations and households.
So according to me, society should give equal position and opportunity to women and men. And also should have to remove such kind of discrimination.
(4) What are your views on Gender Identity? Will you like to give any message to society?
Generally we find that by society, only two types of genders are accepted, according to them a human should either be men or women. But the fact is, we have one more part which are known as a transgender. But the people who falls under this category, are nor easily accepted by society. And they facing many difficulties and harassment Just because they are not as society wants them. Why shouldn't we make place comfortable for them to live? This is always remain a question. And it's surprising that no one ever think seriously about this. And no one care. Now when law give them permission to live freely, society creates hurdles for them. Even the parents who has a transgender child, are try to hide reality from everyone and not accepting them.
But we have to understand that, if they are not women and men, and different than others. It doesn't mean, they are not okay, they are also normal. And we should have to accept them as they are. At last they are also a human, not alien. We find that many writers, filmmakers, T. V. Serial directors, Start working on this problems. And because of their efforts, new awareness emerged, people started accepting them, understanding them. It is quite surprising that we are worshiping our ancient gods like, "ARDHNARESHWAR" but when it comes into the human. It concider as a seen, why? Comment your Views on this topic, in Comment section.
(5)Write a note on the direction of the movie. Which symbols and space caught your attention while watching the moive?
Personally, when i watched that movie, i found many symbols and settings which is symbolising something. First when vita propose to Virginia and Virginia disapprove her and told her to get out from her home. We find that when Vita left out the house, climber grow so faster. Which is symbolising feelings of Virginia, towards Vita, which are growing so faster. Also in movie, there is one scene, when depression of Virginia overpowered her and she is crying and come out of house, at that time we see a bunch of black birds attacking on her, which symbolize her instability and ill mental condition of her mind.
Also along with this, bunch of birds symbolising troubles, given by society, to Virginia or other female writers of that time. As birds attacking Virginia, similarly society attacking female writers that female can not dare to write anything. It is something out of the box for society. And so they can not accept females who are giving contribution in literature.
In the movie, when very first time, Virginia feel that, she also has feeling for Vita and vita coming closer to her heart. She agreed to meet vita and they meet in a garden or a place like garden. In the garden we found that so many flowers are blossoming. Which symbolising blossom of love in both vita and Virginia's heart for each other. After this meeting, when vita go back to her home and enter in room, she saw lot many vines, trees, plants are growing in the room. Which again symbolize her mental unstability.
There is one another scene, in which Virginia standing on river bank and starring the water of that river. Which reflects her desire of death and thought of suicide. So this are the symbolis i found in the movie. In my blog i put a video of that movie, so do watch the movie and let comment what symbols you find from it.
(6) "Vita and Virginia" had to be made into Bollywood Adaptation, who do you think would be fit for the role of Vita and Virginia?
If Vita and Virginia, had to be made into Bollywood, i would like to select Deepika Padukone for the role of Virginia Woolf, and Kangana Ranaut for the role of Vita Sackville.
Conclusion :-
Here above, i discussed some of the questions regarded to movie, 'Vita and Virginia' and along with this, a novel 'Orlando : A Biography. Share your views on this various questions and on movie and novel. Thank you!
I am himanshi Parmar, here i write a blog on two questions, (1) Dystopian Literature and (2) India in 20th century Literature. Which was given as a part of thinking activity.
1] Dystopian Literature
What is Dystopia :-
According to Oxford dictionary,
"Dystopia is an imagined or society in which there is a great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post - apocalyptic."
In another words, "Dystopia is a speculated community or society that is undesirable or frightening."
Dystopia is basically refered as a antonym of utopian. A term which was coined by sirThomas More. The word Dystopia, was derived from adding the Latin'prefix dys', which means 'bad', to the word utopia. So a dystopia is a utopia gone wrong. Here i put a video, which shows, what kind of Dystopian world actually are.
What is utopia?
According to Oxford Dictionary,
"Utopia is an imagined place or state or thing in which everything is perfect."
"Also utopia is an ideal society or state. "
It was first coin by sir Thomas More for his book Utopia, which describing a fictional island society in the new world. The word 'Utopia' derived from the Greek Word 'Outopos'. Meaning 'no place' or 'Nowhere'. Also identical greek word 'Eutopos' means 'A good place'. This is a video of utopian world.
Dystopian Literature :-
Dystopian literature is a form of writing novels or any other literary work, as a response of utopian literature. We can able to say that Dystopia or Dystopian literature is an Antonym of Utopia or Utopian Literature. Dystopian literature gives us a vision of future. It is a society that is dehumanizing and frightening. It is also a speculative fiction that explore social and political structure.
We can also able to say that, Dystopian gener, create a world or society, where life is extremely bad, because of lot many reasons. like, human misery, such as squalor, oppression, disease, overcrowding, environmental destruction, war, terror, political issues etc. We find such kind of Dystopian portrayal in novel, films, video games, comic books, graphic novels, short stories etc. Let me discuss some of the central Characteristics of Dystopian literature.
Characteristics of Dystopian Literature :-
1) Government control
2) Environmental destruction
3) Technological control
4) Survival
5) Loss of Individualism
1) Government control :-
If we see any Dystopian literature. We find that, Government play vital role. Generally in Dystopian literature, either there is no Government or an oppressive ruling government. If we see in Ursula k. Le Guin's novel 'Always Coming home'. Written in 1985. Which is a science - Fiction. In this work we find the kesh repudiate a government system and are self organized. Also '1984' by George Orwell, the world is under complete government control. And we a find a very popular dialogue, "Big Brother is Watching you". Which means, people are under the strict government watch, who gave them no rights to do anything individually.
2) Technological Control :-
In Dystopian World, we find extremeness of technology, and mainly technology and tools work for improving every day life. Technology was controlling by humans. Sometimes technology also creates fear and unemployment for people of that particular Dystopian Society. For example :
1. Aldous Huxley's 'Brave new World'. Which was written in 1932, in this work Huxley explores danger of technology.
2. Work of Philip K. Dick named 'Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?' Also talk about dangers of advanced technology. There are many robots who disguise as humans, and mass extinction led to artificial animal.
3. A novel written in 2002, titled 'Feed' by M. T. Anderson, is also Dystopian novel. Talks about a computer network, that is implanted into the brain of 73% of American Citizens.
3) Environmental Disaster :-
Dystopian novels and works are mainly set in destroyed places, or a places which are close to destruction. Mainly the settings are in gloomy, dark places. For example :
1. The Maza Running, a series by James Dashner, shows that how Dystopian world had been destroyed by massive solar flares and coronal mass ejection. In first book of series, a group of a teenage boys are stuck in an imaginary place called 'Glade' and try to find their way.
4) Survival :-
Dystopian story is also about survival of human. For example :
1. William Golding's 'Lord of the flies', written in 1954. It talks about a group of school boys, that abandoned on Island, and struggle of that boys to built civilization and fight for survival.
2. Jeanne Duprau's 'The city of Ember', which set in underground world, known as Ember. The city is constructed and impending disaster. And there where a group of teenagers who working to find their way out.
5) Lost of Individual :-
Dystopian brings loss of individualism and represent needs of society, Rather than individual. For example :
1. 'We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin, written in 1920, follow a spacecraft engineer, living in the future nation called one state.
2. 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury, written in 1953. Mainly talks about protagonist, who is a fireman and whose job is to burn books.
2] India in 20th century literature
We find the references of India in many works of English writers. They portrayed both the good and bad side of India and its people. Here i shortly discuss about some of that works.
1) A passage to India :-
This novel was written by English author E. M. Forster in 1924. Which is set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian Independence movement in 1920s. The novel was also won many awards and selected as one of the hundred great works of 20th century English literature by the modern library. Also won James Tail Black memorial prize for fiction in 1924.
The novel deals with political occupation of India by the British army and concluding relations between the English and native population. Also described friendship between two main characters Cyril Fielding and Dr. Aziz, with all it's obstacles.
2) To the lighthouse :-
In this novel India was represented as a exotic place, where lies great happiness, romance and adventures. We also found a character Augustus Carmichael have strong desire to go to India. And desire to get achievements. Which shows that India is portrayed as a place of desire. And it is also mentioned that, in India Jewelry is something which is related with richness and pride. And even India was very famous for it's jwelery and spices. This how we find india in this novel by Virginia Woolf.
3) Siddhartha (1922) :-
The novel Siddhartha was written by Herman Hesse in 1922. The novel is set six centuries, before the birth of Christ. In ancient India at the time of Gotama the Buddha. In this book, Author described about religion in India and as specially Brahmins. The entire story is about Siddhartha, who seeks for the meaning of life and embarks on a quest to find enlightenment. All the characters Herman, take from India and write a novel. Mainly the places or settings are also from India.
Conclusion :-
There are some other books also, which mentions India and it's people, places,etc. Books Like H. G. Wells's, 'Around the world in eighty Days'. Written in 1872-73. Indian since ancient time, influenced many countries and that reflects in the works of the writers of various countries.
Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar. Write this blog as a part of thinking activity, given as task of academic work.
Introduction :-
'Tradition and individual Talent' is an important essay written by a great poet and critic T. S. Eliot. The essay was published in 1919. And was in "The Egoist". The Egoist was literary magazine which is now considered a "England's most important modernist periodical".And later on the essay published in Eliot's first book of criticism called "The sacred wood" (1920). The essay 'Tradition and individual talent', is also available in few other books like, Eliot's "Selected prose" and "Selected essays".
About T. S. Eliot :-
Mainly Eliot known for his poetry. He also contributed in criticism. He consider as a great cultural critic. Comparable to Sir. Philip Sydney and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was also well known poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic and editor.Considered one of the 20th century's major poets, he is a central figure in English-language Modernist poetry. Who was born on 26 September 1888. And died on 4 January 1965. His full name is Thomas Stearns Eliot OM.
He was Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a prominent Boston Brahmin family, then he moved to England in 1914 at the age of 25 and went on to settle, work, and marry there. He became a British citizen in 1927 at the age of 39, subsequently renouncing his American citizenship. Eliot first attracted widespread attention for his poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" in 1915, which was received as a modernist masterpiece. It was followed by some of the best-known poems in the English language, including "The Waste Land" (1922), "The Hollow Men" (1925), "Ash Wednesday" (1930), and Four Quartets (1943).He was also known for his seven plays, particularly Murder in the Cathedral (1935) and The Cocktail Party (1949). He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948, "for his outstanding, pioneer contribution to present-day poetry".
The poet and critic T. S. Eliot gave shape to many of the concerns that would eventually declared him as a New Criticism. In essays such as "Tradition and the Individual Talent," rather than emphasizing the greatness of the individual poet, Eliot stressed the importance of directing criticism upon the poem itself.
Now let me discuss about some of the important questions is in detail.
(1)Your understanding of the views expressed by Eliot in this essay.
And
(2) How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of Tradition? Do you agree with it?
The essay 'Tradition and individual talent' is divided in three parts, the parts are :
1) The concept of Tradition.
2) the theory of impersonal poetry.
3) the conclusion part.
In the first part Eliot talk about concept of tradition. He says that in English literature, The word is not taken as much positive way. As he sentenced that,
"Seldom, perhais, does the word (Tradition) appear except in a phrase of censure". Then later T. S. Eliot compare Englishmen with frenchmem and reflected the attitude of English's towards French literature. English writers habituated to feel proud on themselves. They proud for their creativity and also for their 'less' criticality. In french we found mass of critical writing. French also have habit of conclusion. This we see when Eliot wrote,
"“…we only conclude (we are such unconscious people) that the French are more critical than we; and sometimes even plume ourselves a little with the fact, as if the French were less spontaneous”.
In the essay, Eliot also defending the role of tradition in helping new writers, to be modern. This is something a central point of Eliot's writing. Eliot favour 'Criticality'. He thinks that, "criticism is as inevitable as breathing ". Then he talk about tradition, Eliot admire the aspects which are different from poet's predecessors. They try to give "uniqueness" and "newness". They always find isolation of the poet from his immediate predecessors. Than Eliot write that, "everyone need to forget all the prejudice, and then only all can come to know about poet's individuality. Which are connected with his ancestors."
The most individual part of any work is which deal with the vigorous dead poet and their glory of writing. In this essay, Eliot, asserts that tradition and individuality go together.
Next Eliot write about Tradition and 'Historical sense'. And Eliot wrote that if form 'Tradition' follow blindly to the dead people or ancestors. Then might be such tradition should be destroyed. According to poet, tradition is not in following pre - generation only. But also it has a bit of novelty. He says that,
“Tradition is a matter of much wider significance. It cannot be inherited, and if you want it you must obtain it by great labor. It involves in the first place, the historical sense.”
With this historical sense they should have perception about its presence as well as about its 'pastness of past'. According to this historical sense, Eliot told writers to write not only with his own generation but also with the whole ags of the English literature. Historical sense make poet realise that the whole area of literature from Homer to his own generation has simultaneous existence. Which reflected two things, 'Timelessness' and 'temporality' in poet's work. Which makes poet traditional. As Eliot wrote that,
“No poet, no artist of any art has his complete meaning alone. His significance, his appreciation is the appreciation of his relation o the dead poets and artists. You can’t value him alone; you must set him, for contrast and comparison among the dead.”
Eliot also says that nothing is individual, the influence of past are always there. Eliot also discuss aboutb 'Conformity between the old and the new'. New work is always connected with it's present and past. Eliot believed that nothing and nobody can valued alone. Eliot also wrote that, "Past is unchangeable, and past and present has strong connection with each other. He wrote that,
“…the past should be altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past. And the poet who is aware of this will be aware of great difficulties and responsibilities”.
(2) Explain: "Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry".
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(2) The theory of Impersonal poetry :-
In second part Eliot define the process of 'depersonalization', and now it is relate to tradition. And the main thing or motif is relations of poetry and poet. For that Eliot says that,
“Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry.”
According to Eliot, most of the criticism only says about a name and creativity of poet, but there is no enjoyment of poetry we found or get. By this quote Eliot says that the difference between mature and immature poet, by liberty of special and varied feeling. Which enter into new combination. Also he says that honest criticism only possible when artist give their fullest to the work. When they sacrifice themselves, At that time poetry become more valuable.
Then later Eliot gives illustration from the field of science and chemistry. He compare 'Platinum' with the poet. When the process of being sulfurous acid take place. The two gases needed. OXYGEN and SULFUR DIOXIDE. and at that time they have a filament 'Platinum'. In this process platinum plays indirect role. And remain unaffected by any gases
Eliot says that poet is also like platinum. They give total contribution, but when poetry comes out, they remain unaffected and oprate. Poet's mind is like utensil and full of fellings, phrases and images. And poets utilize them and unites them as poetry. Eliot also believe that, what poet express is defiantly a medium, but not a personality. He wrote that,
“…the poet has not a ‘personality’ to express, but a particular medium, which is only a medium and not a personality…”
(3) Explain: " Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality."
Eliot also talk about emotions and poetry. He says that in poetry, experience and impression comes together in unexpected way. And similarly some trivial experience and impression become so important for poetry. He says that without context, nothing can be understood,
“This balance of constructed emotion is in the dramatic situation to which the speech is pertinent, but that situation alone is inadequate to it.”
Then he gave example of Thomas Middleston's tragedy. And use some lines from that to explain the point. He believes that personal emotions are simple where eles. Poetry is a complex to understand. And that is the reason that not all the time poet's own emotions take place in poetry. Poet used ordinary emotions most of the time. And deal with all known and unknown emotions.
He here change words, but reflect the sentence 'Emotions recollected in tranquility'. He use for this words like, 'An inexact formula'. According to Eliot, a poet who become personal while writing poetry, he will consider as 'Bad poet' because he wrote 'unconsciously'. And Eliot says that poet become conscious where he must be unconscious. When poet stop looking for his personality. Then only the glory and greatness comes out in poetry. Poet has no right to show his personal emotions in poetry. Which we see in the lines he wrote that,
“Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality.”
(3) The Conclusion :-
In the third part of conclusion. Eliot says that it will be so hard to only look into poetry. And ignore poet. Usually all can read poem only with name and fame of the poet. He wrote that,
“There are many people who appreciate the expression of sincere emotion in verse, and there is smaller number of people who can appreciate technical excellence. But very few know when there is expression of significant emotion, emotion which has its life in the poem and not in the history of the poet.”
In this statement, he tries to elaborate the view that to admire poem with poet's skill and fame is most easier thing. But to look only technical skills and art in poem is hardest thing. And he says that, reader must knows that when the work published, the relationship between art and artist is ended. And also he make all the poet aware that they has to sacrifice themselves totally for their work.
