Thinking Activity on T.S. Eliot's Essay 'Tradition and Individual talent'
Q1- How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of tradition? Do you agree with it.
Yes I am agree with the definiton of tradition given by Eliot because he gives very effective and modern definition. Eliot explains the concept of Tradition in a modern way. He gives positive meaning to the word Tradition. He says that the poet or a writer should have to fit in Tradition rather than just imitation of tradition. he also says that Tradition is not inherited, it must be acquired with great labor.
Q2- What do you understand by Historical sense?
Eliot goes further in explaining the concept of tradition with the use of Historical sense. There is quote from his essay on historical sense
Q3- What is the relationship between Tradition and Individual talent?
T.S Eliot relate the concept of Tradition with Individual talent. Eliot says that Tradition comes from hard work, it was not a thing of inheritance. There required Individual talent of the poet or artist. He also speaks up on Shakespeare's talent i.e. he borrows materials from past in a different way and from that difference new Tradition was begin by breaking all the rules. Shakespeare re-adjust himself for living in present. He doesn;t only seeks pastness of the past, but of its presence.
Q4- Explain: " some can absorb knowledge, the more tardy must sweat for it. Shakespeare acuired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole museum"
This line speaks about the genius of Shakespeare that he becomes popular only by reading Plutarch's life. Whereas many writers didn't get that fame even if they read the entire museum of books in British. This was a satirical quote. Shakespeare becomes an exception in T.S Eliot's essay. Shakespeare lived through his age or we can say that he absorbed his entire age in his work of art which makes him great creative writer.
Q5- Explain: " Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon poet but upon the poetry"
In this Quote Eliot puts his great emphasis on the work of art rather than on artist. He says that a critic must be honest or impartial in his treatment. there is no need to know the entire biography about the poet to criticize his poetry. Wide reading of the text is important rather than relying upon the life history of artist.
Q6- How would you like to explain Eliot's theory of Depersonalization?
Eliot gives very effective theory of depersonalization to introduce great artist. Means in this theory he speaks about what quality a great artist. He relates his work with the science by giving a chemical reaction. Eliot says that to form Sulfuric acid there need Sulfuric dioxide and water, and it works with the catalyst Platinum. Without Platinum it was impossible to complete this reaction or formation of Sulfuric acid. When Sulfuric acid made, we find no presence of platinum in it. That's what T.S Eliot wants to say that a writer have their own feelings and emotions when he sits to write his work of art. But these emotions and feelings should not be reflected in his masterpiece. Eliot feels like there is need to keep distance between the poet's suffering and his work. Therefore he gives the idea of Depersonalization i.e. an escape from personal emotions or feelings.
Q7- 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"
This Quote represent the idea of Depersonalization. Through this Quote Eliot wants to say that a poet should remain detach or aloof from his emotions whenever he created work of art. In his work there should not be any type of reflection of his feelings. Poetry is not about expression of personality, but is is about an escape from personality. Eliot says that even if our emotion are present in inner it must be put in hidden way and there is no need to put our emotion in outer work. Then only a poet becomes a perfect artist or genius.
Q8- Write two points on which one can write Critique on T.S Eliot as a critic.
A) T.S Eliot gives short and effective definition on tradition. He thinks about Tradition in modern way. To describe Tradition Eliot gives three points:-
a) not inherited but acquired with hard labor.
b)Historical sense, not only of the pastness of past but of its presence.
c)Timelessness and temporal.
B) Idea of depersonalization- Eliot feels that there needs to keep distance between the suffering of poet and his creative work. The poet must have to escape from his emotions.
Q1- How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of tradition? Do you agree with it.
Yes I am agree with the definiton of tradition given by Eliot because he gives very effective and modern definition. Eliot explains the concept of Tradition in a modern way. He gives positive meaning to the word Tradition. He says that the poet or a writer should have to fit in Tradition rather than just imitation of tradition. he also says that Tradition is not inherited, it must be acquired with great labor.
Q2- What do you understand by Historical sense?
Eliot goes further in explaining the concept of tradition with the use of Historical sense. There is quote from his essay on historical sense
"The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence"It means one must have to think about the present in the work of art. It involves perception of the presence of the past not only its pastness. Only to recall dates and names of famous historical figures is not perception. He further use the words 'timelessness' and 'temporal'. Timelessness in the sense that work of art doesn't have its past and present. Temporal means it still exist or present in modern times. It is a living monument not dead one.
Q3- What is the relationship between Tradition and Individual talent?
T.S Eliot relate the concept of Tradition with Individual talent. Eliot says that Tradition comes from hard work, it was not a thing of inheritance. There required Individual talent of the poet or artist. He also speaks up on Shakespeare's talent i.e. he borrows materials from past in a different way and from that difference new Tradition was begin by breaking all the rules. Shakespeare re-adjust himself for living in present. He doesn;t only seeks pastness of the past, but of its presence.
Q4- Explain: " some can absorb knowledge, the more tardy must sweat for it. Shakespeare acuired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole museum"
This line speaks about the genius of Shakespeare that he becomes popular only by reading Plutarch's life. Whereas many writers didn't get that fame even if they read the entire museum of books in British. This was a satirical quote. Shakespeare becomes an exception in T.S Eliot's essay. Shakespeare lived through his age or we can say that he absorbed his entire age in his work of art which makes him great creative writer.
Q5- Explain: " Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon poet but upon the poetry"
In this Quote Eliot puts his great emphasis on the work of art rather than on artist. He says that a critic must be honest or impartial in his treatment. there is no need to know the entire biography about the poet to criticize his poetry. Wide reading of the text is important rather than relying upon the life history of artist.
Q6- How would you like to explain Eliot's theory of Depersonalization?
Eliot gives very effective theory of depersonalization to introduce great artist. Means in this theory he speaks about what quality a great artist. He relates his work with the science by giving a chemical reaction. Eliot says that to form Sulfuric acid there need Sulfuric dioxide and water, and it works with the catalyst Platinum. Without Platinum it was impossible to complete this reaction or formation of Sulfuric acid. When Sulfuric acid made, we find no presence of platinum in it. That's what T.S Eliot wants to say that a writer have their own feelings and emotions when he sits to write his work of art. But these emotions and feelings should not be reflected in his masterpiece. Eliot feels like there is need to keep distance between the poet's suffering and his work. Therefore he gives the idea of Depersonalization i.e. an escape from personal emotions or feelings.
Q7- 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"
This Quote represent the idea of Depersonalization. Through this Quote Eliot wants to say that a poet should remain detach or aloof from his emotions whenever he created work of art. In his work there should not be any type of reflection of his feelings. Poetry is not about expression of personality, but is is about an escape from personality. Eliot says that even if our emotion are present in inner it must be put in hidden way and there is no need to put our emotion in outer work. Then only a poet becomes a perfect artist or genius.
Q8- Write two points on which one can write Critique on T.S Eliot as a critic.
A) T.S Eliot gives short and effective definition on tradition. He thinks about Tradition in modern way. To describe Tradition Eliot gives three points:-
a) not inherited but acquired with hard labor.
b)Historical sense, not only of the pastness of past but of its presence.
c)Timelessness and temporal.
B) Idea of depersonalization- Eliot feels that there needs to keep distance between the suffering of poet and his creative work. The poet must have to escape from his emotions.
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