Gatsby Gala Powerpoint: 1920s Music and Poetry

Reflection on Assessment

One of the ideas from the article that I found interesting was, "Whether you've given it a thought or not, the way you perceive time can influence your happiness today and all your tomorrows." I agree with this quote and I think it's spot on.

After taking the survey, I found that my time-perspective on Past-Negative is 3.20 which is higher than the average. I found that my Past-Positive though, was lower than the average, 3.78. My present-fatalistic is 1.89, which is higher than the average, and my present-hedonistic is 3.00, below the average. And finally, my future perspective was 3.62, which is also above the average score. According to the survey, I am more of a past-positive-oriented person.

I both agree and disagree with some of my results, especially. I thought that my present-fatalistic would've been higher than it was because, in general, I'm a fairly dedicated person. I like it when I get work done before it's due. But I agree with my presnt-hedonistic score because I can get distracted a little more easily than I would like to. Sometimes I might rush a little on my work in order to get to something a little more exciting. I also disagree with my past-negative score because I didn't really have a bad childhood. Sure, there have been a couple of situations that I regret and wish I could go back and change, but I don't really worry or think about it that often. For the rest of the results, I agree with them and I would say that this survey is fairly accurate.

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" Collage, Essay, Imagery List

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

 

In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, T.S. Elliot uses imagery, allusion, and diction to convey mood and meaning, as well as describing the scene. The imagery he uses is deep and vivid, which really helps the reader get a picture of what is happening. He uses allusion to compare certain misunderstood subjects to something a little bit more relatable. His diction is very well used for the gloomy, flustered character in the poem. It all comes together to describe how a man who wants love and intimacy, might be too self-loathing to fulfill this desire.

 

T.S. Elliot’s strong use of vivid imagery helps give the audience a visual picture for what is going on in the poem. He describes a yellow fog that is creeping up on Prufrock, making him “yellow” or scared to commit to anything. “The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, the yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes” (Lines 15-16). This depicts a fog, rolling in around Prufrock, reminding him of his fear of commitment. The color yellow represents his fear. He wants to be happy with someone, but this thought, in the back of his mind, of rejection keeps coming back to him. Elliot then describes how Prufrock is self-conscious about his physical figure.  “And indeed there will be time To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” Time to turn back and descend the stair, With a bald spot in the middle of my head (They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”) My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”) Do I dare Disturb the universe?” (Lines 37-46) Elliot describing Prufrock’s physical woes gives the reader a picture of how he looks and how he might be afraid of commitment because of these abnormalities. He is afraid that a woman may be put off when glancing upon him and because of this possibility of rejection; he sees no motivation to look for an intimate relationship.

 

In addition to the use of strong imagery, T.S. Elliot also uses various allusions to better explain Prufrock’s negative outlook on love and commitment. At the very beginning of the poem, before Line 1, Elliot writes this prelude; “S’io credesse che mia risposta fosse A persona che mai tornasse al mondo, Questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma perciocche giammai di questo fondo Non torno vivo alcun, s’i’odo il vero, Senza tema d’infamia ti rispondo.” (Pre-line 1) This alludes to hell and how Prufrock sees himself as well as his life. Prufrock is so loathsome of himself that he is almost certain that he will not find love or intimacy with anyone, let alone a woman. As the poem progresses, he doesn’t change his outlook on himself, in fact, it might even get worse. Elliot also alludes to Prince Hamlet with the following quote, “No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do To swell a progress, start a scene or two, Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, Deferential, glad to be of use, Politic, cautious, and meticulous; Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse; At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—Almost, at times, the Fool.” (Line 111-119) With this allusion, Elliot explains to the reader that Prufrock feels that he was never meant to be anyone great, such as Prince Hamlet. He feels as though he isn’t even worthy to advise him or help out in a way. His hatred of himself even brings up the thought that he would be the Fool. Using these allusions, T.S. Elliot helps to give the reader some understanding of how little self-esteem Prufrock possesses.

 

As well as vivid imagery and alluding to well-known situations, T.S. Elliot’s very good diction, or word choice, helps give the reader a more formal way of portraying Prufrock’s attitude towards himself, and the idea of love and intimacy. By using this complexity of word choice, he helps the poem flow without confusing the reader. “Do I dare, Disturb the universe? In a minute there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.” (Line 45-48). Using this quote, Elliot explains to the reader how Prufrock isn’t only worried about affecting whoever he tries to be intimate with, but he is afraid that, in some way, the entire universe will be disturbed by his actions. He acts as though he is the most repulsive creature to ever set foot on this planet, and he is, in his mind. He feels as though he was never meant to be happy with anyone, or have a family. Even though Prufrock’s biggest desire is to find love and intimacy, the idea of doing so is almost sickening to him. Another quote shows how insignificant Prufrock finds himself; “For I have known them all already, known them all: Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons; I know the voices dying with a dying fall Beneath the music from a farther room. So how should I presume?” (Line 49-54). Prufrock’s thought of “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” kind of makes the reader pity him a little bit. His life, in his mind, is so meaningless that he measures it out with the tiniest of objects. Elliot uses this diction to tell the reader that Prufrock doesn’t just dislike himself, he loathes himself, more than anything.

 

Through the use of strong vivid imagery, well-known allusions, and complex diction, T.S. Elliot, author of “The Love Song by J Alfred Prufrock”, helps explain the meaning of Prufrock’s powerful sense of self-loathing. When all put together, he helps depict a man who desires love more than anything in the world, but his extreme lack of confidence and self-esteem issues prevent him from doing so.

30 Examples of Imagery from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

1. When the evening is spread out against the sky, line 2

2. Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, line 4

3. Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels, line 6

4. And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells, line 7

5. Streets that follow like a tedious argument, line 8

6. The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, line 15

7. The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, line 16

8. Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening, line 17

9. Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains, line 18

10. Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys, line 19

11. Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap, line 20

12. And seeing that it was a soft October night, line 21

13. Curled once about the house, and fell asleep. Line 22

14. For the yellow smoke that slides along the street, line 24

15. Rubbing its back upon the window panes; line25

16. And time for all the works and days of hands, line 29

17. That lift and drop a question on your plate; line 30

18. Before the taking of a toast and tea. Line 34

19. Time to turn back and descend the stair, line 39

20. With a bald spot in the middle of my hair— line 40

21. (They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”) line 41

22. My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, line42

23. My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin— line 43

24. (They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”) line 44

25. Disturb the universe? Line 46

26. I have measured out my life with coffee spoons; line 51

27. When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall, line 58

28. To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways? Line 60

29. Arms that are braceleted and white and bare, line 63

30. Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets

And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes

Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?… line 70-72