T. S. Elliot's The Waste Land

by Gareth Reeves

This work argues that although "The Waste Land" demands close reading, the spirit of the old New Criticism works with inappropriate assumptions about unity and closed form. Many critics have tried to fix the text, to find hidden narratives and plots, spiritual guests and allegories of salvation. Instead, this reading sees the poem as resolutely open-ended, supporting this view with recent developments in Reader-Response criticism and Reception Theory. The study focuses on the way poetry sounds (or does not sound, cannot be sounded). It concentrates on syntax, lineation and intonation. It also brings out the presence of the muted voices of wronged women in a work often called misogynistic.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Fiction, Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We think of the key, each in his prison

Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison"

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel as though the literary gods will shun me for this rating. It wasn't bad. Of course, T.S Eliot is a wonderful writer and I understand this is widely regarded as one of the most important poems of the 20th century. So, as a poet myself, I went in hyped to finally read this...It was ok. Beautifully written, yes. A labyrinth of thoughts, yes. Maybe just not the kind of poetry for me. Maybe one day I'll circle back to it and give it another go.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

*whispers* so pretentious

[Alejandro Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las imágenes de T.S Elliot son como bailarinas que se mueven en un sueño, su prosa choca y se combina en el siguiente verso como un mar picado engendrando olas gigantes que se vuelven espuma, parece hablar de algo y en el siguiente verso ya está hablando de la siguiente escena, y si bien puede ser confuso es también excitante leerlo y releerlo y encontrar más y más, hay tanta profundidad en dos versos suyos como lo hay en las nubes, T.S Elliot es inabarcable, inmenso, algo más allá que un gigante.
Es notable su erudición cuando se expresa con tanta facilidad en idiomas como alemán y francés y vuelve al inglés y todo sigue sonando tan bien, definitivamente un punto muy muy alto en la poesía de toda la historia humana.

De mis partes favoritas es cuando dice:

“I can connect
Nothing with nothing.”

Es como si elevara toda la consecuencia nihilista del siglo XX a una casualidad tan bella como ligera

Y mi cita favorita es:
“For you know only a heap of broken images where the sun beats”

Es como si lo hubiera entendido todo y lo dijera como si no fuera la gran cosa, me recuerda a los aforismos de Lao Tse.

En resumen, sublime te amo ts elliot casate conmigo aunque seguramente odiabas a los geis por ser religioso extremista.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting work of poetry that was probably made even better by my having read and dissected it with a group of other individuals.
The Waste Land gives you a lot to think about in terms of the context in which it was written, the imagery it pulls into your mind, etc.
Definitely worth sitting down for a bit to read and understand it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very descriptive and in-depth poem.

[Lorena Living Life · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elitist

[laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

literally changed my life to the point of tears

[Ellianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah Eliot I love you

[Jaimy Faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nam Sibyllam quidem Cumis ego ipse oculis meis vidiin ampulla pendere, et cum illi pueri dicerent: Σίβνλλα τί ϴέλεις; respondebat illa: άπο ϴανεΐν ϴέλω.”

[Bert. H · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I will show you fear -
In a handful of dust)

[Dennis rdam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snapte het niet helemaal

[nowhere · Rating 4 out of 5]

April is the cruellest month!!

[Laura Ann Tull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this poem to read because of a speech I read given by Erica Jung to the ACLU. I actually chose part of the speech to present as a monologue in a voice class. granted I don't look like Jung but I liked the challenge. http://gos.sbc.edu/j/jong.html. I should add I was in DC at the time of the CDA working for Court TV. I also don't necessarily agree with everything Jung says, though I agree women need protection, men who pimp women should be exposed, and inequality in economics is a huge reason why women end up being abused.
the poem is divided in five parts and apparently is influenced by the story of the Fisher king, and eastern thought, with one section named for the Buddhist Fire Sermon. it is also heavily annotated, though from what I've read on line the author regretted adding so many notes at the end.
this poem makes me feel very inexperienced in life and literature. the poet references different sources and uses foreign languages, including sanskrit. Overall brilliant though modern and therefor very abstract at times.

[Janice]

This is one of the most beautiful poems I've ever read. When I was working at this temp firm in midtown and my job was boring, I used to listen to him reading this on the online archives in the mornings and it made my day. I can unequivocally say that I love T.S. Elliot

[Towens23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliot is one of my favorite poets, especially the Four Quartets. This collection is much less hopeful than the Quartets, but it's still very good.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurry up please, its time

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever I find myself without something to read, I typically find myself back to 'The Waste Land'.

[Devonrose Rose]

I find his poetry flows so beautifully when read out loud

[Milo · Rating 4 out of 5]

rekindling a passion for poetry

[Dr Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfection

[Pamela Blunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIs descriptions, metaphors, images are unequaled. Love Elliot.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

mysterious masterwork

[Łukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not know for certain how much of my own mind he invented.

[T60n3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dig it!