The Waste Land by T.S Eliot Essay Example
The Waste Land by T.S Eliot Essay Example

The Waste Land by T.S Eliot Essay Example

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During two important periods in literature, poetry and prose were both considered art forms and occupations for the educated. These periods are known as the Victorian era or Romantic Poetry and modern poetry. The selected poems for analysis are T.S Eliot's The Waste Land and Robert Browning's Memorabilia.

The article compares two poems, giving a short description and highlighting their differences across various time periods. It uses examples from the poems to emphasize how nature is depicted differently during these periods. The Waste Land by T. S Eliot, which was written during the First World War, is acknowledged as an important work of modern poetry and literature that greatly influenced European culture.

The poet's utilization of nature is represented by Sybil, a prophetic woman who desires death despite her lack of aging. His poem is

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an illustration of Jessie Weston's Ritual of Romance and Sir James Frazier's The Golden Bough, both anthropological works. Eliot depicts nature through the characters in his poem, including the Fisher King who is wounded and impotent, and referred to as a waste land. Eliot utilizes the figure of King Fisher to depict different cultural and national aspects, presenting them as a waste land.

The given text is a passage from the initial section of Eliot's The Waste Land. Here, Eliot examines the deterioration and adverse metamorphosis of contemporary society, using tarot cards and a clairvoyant's insight to portray these circumstances as grim. Conversely, Robert Browning's poem Memorabilia, originating from the Romantic era, underscores the significance of physical artifacts.

The poetry in question uses metaphors to describe a person named Shelly who has passed away

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The poem also includes a metaphorical reference to an eagle, which has flown away but left behind a feather. This is compared to the idea of Shelly being gone but still leaving traces through past experiences. Browning takes a direct approach to nature, unlike other Romantic era authors and poets who typically use more metaphorical and euphonic language.

The poetry expresses the significance of loss and tragedy when someone departs permanently. It serves as an epiphany of the loss experienced after the eagle and Shelley have departed. The poem depicts a deeper and more intricate form of poetry. Browning reveals his lack of faith in his own life and analytical abilities. Nevertheless, his poetry offers a refreshing and romantically poetic portrayal of human loss, in contrast to the more direct and blunt approach of modern era poetry that lacks romantic inclination.

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