T.S.Eliot 's Poem - ' The Waste Land'

Welcome readers ! Here I am going to Write down one another blog. In this Particular blog I am going to write and discuss about T.S.Eliot's Poem - ' The Waste land.' This blog is inspired by Dr.Dilip sir barad - Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. 

   In this Poem one can find so many References, Allusions and myths. So it is very much difficult to understand it in a Proper way and as we know that Modernist literature also considered as - ' Esoteric literature.'  T.S.Eliot' s poem - ' The Waste land' is one of them. Click here to know more  about this Poem.

                  ' The Waste Land ' :- 

    ' The Waste Land ' is a Poem written  by T.S.Eliot. This Poem widely regarded as one of the most important poems of 20th century and a central work of Modernist poetry. Before going into further discussion, First let us have a look at general understanding of the poem and a brief overview about the Poet itself.

                  ' About  T. S. Eliot :- ' 

  T. S. Eliot (1888 - 1965 ) full name Thomas Stearns Eliot OM was a poet, Essayist, Publisher, Playwright, literary critic and editor. He considered one of the 20th century major poets. He is a central figure in English language Modernist poetry. T. S. Eliot received Nobel prize in literature in the year 1948 for his " Outstanding, Pioneer contributions to Present day poetry ".

  

    In the Year 1910 and 1911 , While still a college student he wrote ' The Love song of J.Alfred Prufrock ' Published in Poetry magazine , and other poems by T.S.Eliot that are landmarks in the history of modern literature. In the Year - 1964 , he awarded the Presidential medal of the freedom. Despite his enduring popularity Eliot and his work have been criticized ad having Prejudiced views, Particularly anti - semitism. 

Eliot has been one of the most daring innovators of twentieth century poetry. He never compromises either with the public or indeed with language itself.  He has followed his belief that ; 

  

     " Poetry should  aim at a representation of  the Complexities of  modern civilization  in language and that such representation necessarily leads to difficult poetry." 

T. S.Eliot died on January 4 , 1965. 

      

           ' About  the Poem :- ' 

' The Waste land ' long poem by T. S.Eliot Published in the Year 1922, first in  London in the Criterion ( October ) , Next in new york city in The Dial ( November) and finally in book form , with footnotes by Eliot. This poem consists total 433 lines and divided into Five parts. 

   T. S. Eliot dedicated this poem to fellow poet - Ezra pound , who helped condense the original manuscript to nearly half its size. It was one of the most influential works of the 20th century. The poem initially met with controversy as its complex and erudite style was alternately denounced for its Obscurity and  Praised for its modernism. 

  The Five parts of The Waste land are entitled as :- 

  1. The Burial of the Dead

2. A Game of  chess 

 3. The Fire sermon

 4. Death by water

 5. What the Thunder said 

So, These are the five different sections in

which the entire poem is divided. 

' General  Understanding of the poem :- ' 

Let us try to understand the poem through each section that what the poet wants to convey us through his masterpiece of work. 

  Part 1 :- ' The Burial of the Dead :- ' 

The Burial of the Dead means Spiritual decadence and death of the waste landers. For the waste landers, " April is the cruelest month " which brings birth to flowers from the land. These flowers imply re - birth which requires some effort on their part. The waste landers do not wish to put any spritual effort and as such April is unwelcome to them. They however like winter, which is a symbol of Spritual death. 

 Part :- 2 ' A Game of Chess ' :- 

' A Game of Chess ' is the second section of T.S.Eliot 's poem. The title taken from Thomas Middleton's play - ' Women Beware women .' 

 

 This Part of the Poem centered on female sexuality and estrangement of relationships and marriage. The Cupid - a Symbol of sexuality and love. Reference of Philomena came in this part of the poem. Philomena raped by the barbarous king and after that turned into Nightingale. 

  The reference to the game of chess should be noted. chess is considered as an emotionless game. Chess symbolizes sexual manipulation. Love has no meaning here - Lust can hardly be noted. 

  Part :- 3 ' The Fire Sermon :- '

The Fire sermon is the third Section in T.S.Eliot's poem - The waste land. This is the longest part of the poem. The title is taken from a sermon given by Buddha in which he encouraged his followers to give up earthly passion and seek freedom from earthly things.

 This part of the poem gives the idea of Spiritual degradation. 

    Part :- 4 ' Death by Water :- ' 

Death by water is a symbol of Purification and re - birth. In the Poem ' The waste land ' water has become a source of death, because a man leads a life of the senses and in Pursuit of wealth. This is the smallest part of the poem. The title is very significant. Generally, water provides life to all of us. But, here the title suggests that - Death by water. 

         Part :- 5 ' What the Thunder Said :- ' 

 This is the last section of the poem. The poem closes with the repetition of three words which the thunder said - Da, Da,Da means 

Datta :- Be a giver 

Dayadhvam :- Be kind & compassionate

Damyata:- Self - Control, control over one's passion and desires

These are Eliot 's final words of advice to his audience and it's advice he wants us to follow if we 're going to have any hope of moving forward. 

 

Question :- 1 Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in ' The waste land.'  (Where, How and why are the Indian thoughts referred? ) 

Answer :-   In our Present poem - The waste land T.S.Eliot referred many cultures , myths and Allusions. This poem deals with the theme of universality. We can understand that how T.S.Eliot talked about various cultures and myths at a single time. There are so many themes in the poem. But one of the major and important theme is Sexual perversion and Spiritual degradation. 

   T.S.Eliot 's The Waste land : A Perspective on Indian Thoughts :- 

  Indian thoughts especially Hinduism and Buddhism exercised a conspicuous and impressionable influence on Eliot's mind when he was working upon his Poem - The Waste land. So, that is how Eliot brought Indian thoughts in his poem. The title of the third section of the poem The Fire sermon is derived from the famous sermon of lord Buddha to be assembled priests on the suffering and pains of modern humanity. Lord Buddha chants ; 

  " All things are on Fire / They are on fire of Infatuation:  With birth, old age, death, sorrow , misery, grief  and despair." 

Here In this poem Fire used as metaphor. It symbolises lust. But According to hindu scriptures, there exists a superior fire of Tapa which burns the flames of lust and human soul can enjoy. 

The poem ends with the chanting of Shantih which Eliot drew from Brihadaranyaka upanishad. This upanishad comprises sox chapters which are called Aranyakas. As the upanishad, The Waste land poem delivers a message of salvation for modern humanity from their living death.

In the Upanishad , the message of the thunder is emblematic to figure out the cryptic mode of Prajapati 's teaching to his three kinds of disciples namely - Gods, men and demons. Eliot uses the three Da and reference taken from upanishad. The three Da symbolises as below.

The First Da :- The First Da Symbolises as Datta means ' Be a giver.' 

 The Second Da :- The Second Da symbolises Dayadhvam means Be kind, show some sympathy towards others.

 The Third Da :- The third Da symbolises Damyata means self - control over one's passion and desires.

The poem ends on a positive note with the triple use of the words - ' Shantih , Shantih, Shantih...which T.S.Eliot translated as peace that passes all understanding.

I hope that this blog will be useful to you..

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