➡️ paper no. 106 The Twentieth Century literature: 1900 to World war ll.
💠 Assignment paper no. 106
This blog is an Assignment paper no. 106 The Twentieth Century literature: 1900 to World war ll. In this assignment I am dealing with 'The waste land' as a modern epic poem.
🔷 Personal information:
Name: Gohel Dhruvika G
Paper no:106 The Twentieth Century literature: 1900 to World war ll.
Subject code: 22399
Topic name: 'The waste land' as a Modern epic poem
Batch: M.A sem 2
Roll no: 04
Enrollment no: 5108240012
E-mail address: dhruvikagohel252@gmail.com
Submitted to: smt, S.B Gardi Department of English MKBU
💠 About author:
(T.S. Eliot)
🔷 Introduction:
T.S Eliot (1888–1965) was a towering figure in modernist literature, known for his innovative use of language, form, and allusion. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot later became a British citizen and spent much of his life in England. His poetry, including seminal works like The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The Waste Land, and Four Quartets, explores themes of disillusionment, spiritual decay, and the search for meaning in a fragmented modern world. In addition to his poetry, Eliot was an accomplished playwright, literary critic, and editor. His profound influence reshaped 20th-century literature, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948.
💠 'The waste land' as a Modern epic poem
1. Fragmentation as Modern Epic Form
Instead of a continuous narrative, The Waste Land is fragmented, representing the broken psyche and cultural disintegration after World War I. This fragmentation reflects a new kind of epic one that mirrors modern chaos.
2. The Hero’s Journey
Though there is no traditional hero, figures like Tiresias, the blind prophet, serve as symbolic guides. The poem itself can be seen as a psychological and spiritual journey through a desolate landscape, echoing the structure of an epic quest.
3. Use of Myth and Allusion
Eliot draws heavily on myth, literature, and religion — referencing the Holy Grail legend, Shakespeare, Buddhism, and more. These references create an intertextual richness akin to the deep cultural grounding of classical epics.
4. Universal Themes
The poem tackles epic themes like death and rebirth, spiritual emptiness, cultural decay, and the search for meaning. These are explored not through heroic deeds but through introspection, memory, and philosophical reflection.
5. A Modern “Epic Voice”
Eliot adopts multiple voices and languages, creating a polyphonic texture. The poem's speaker shifts, echoing the voices of different cultures and time periods a modern take on the epic narrator.
💠 Characteristics of a Traditional Epic:
Traditionally, epic poems include the following features:
A grand, formal style and elevated language.
A heroic figure central to the narrative.
Vast settings, often spanning nations or even worlds.
Intervention of supernatural forces or deities.
A quest or journey undertaken by the hero.
Exploration of universal themes such as honor, war, and fate.
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