TS Eliot Flashcards
Soiled
In the palms of both soiled hands. (Preludes)
intertextual reference to Lady Macbeth washing away her guilt resembles the modern contamination of an expanding industrialised society.
Horse
a lonely cab-horse steams and stamps (Preludes)
through the use of animalistic imagery of the physical actions of the horse to symbolise the internal frustration
Yellow
“Or clasped the yellow soles of feet”
(preludes)
his reference to yellow soles symbolises a product of industrialisation, as the colour yellow creates connotations of sickness and decay and uses a homophone for “sole”
soot hotels
“Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,”
through the use of visual imagery, Elliot depicts being covered in the unpleasant remnants of an industrialising society, “let fall” showcases Prufrock encouraging the acceptance of his fate “one-night cheap hotels.”
(Prufrock)
thin arms and legs
“They will say… How his arms and legs are thin”
his mentality soon shifts as he ponders on societies perception of his deteriorating state hence intensifying his anxiety as result of his inertial state.
(Prufrock)
dare
“’Do I dare?’ and, ‘Do I dare?’”
using rhetorical questions he reflects on the generation’s actions of inquiry, to seek external purpose
(Prufrock)
Time
“And indeed there will be time”
Prufrock ensures a false and ironic confidence through his use of ‘indeed’ in an attempt to leave his inertial state and make a change to his monotonous lifestyle.
(prufrock)
Murder and create
“There will be time to murder and create”
Elliot hyperbolises the amount of time Prufrock thinks he has, simply stating that he has enough time to die and be born again, however is oblivious to his temporal status.
(Prufrock)
Coffee spoons
“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons”
the use metaphoric imagery as he compares his monotonous life to the motion of using coffee spoons, he reflects on the mundanities of his life
masquerades
“Early coffee stands with other masquerades”
the visual imagery outlines the repetitive routines that society hasn’t let go of, masked by these masquerades to hide the ugly truth that society is ever changed by the impacts of industrialisation.
streets
“vision of the street, as the street hardly understands.”
Elliot’s use of a contemplative tone signifies an urge to yearn for purpose through their mundane lifestyle, as they hold wistful aspiration through theirl; to seek a more meaningful life.
