T.S. Eliot - Criticism - Tradition and Individual Talent

 T.S. Eliot - Criticism - Tradition and Individual Talent 

Introduction :-

This blog is base on the thinking activity about T.S. Eliot and Tradition and Individual Talent. T.S. Eliot very well known about his different view points in literature and creative manner of writing. In this blog we can discuss about some questions and try to cover up the good concept. T.S. Eliot was  gave his own point of view on tradition and individual talent.

T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)

What is Criticism? :-

Criticism is like giving opinions or judgments about something, like a book, movie, or art. It's when someone looks at something closely and talks about what's good, bad, or interesting about it. Critics share their thoughts to help others understand and think about things in different ways. It's a way to explore and talk about the strengths and weaknesses of something to learn more about it. There are so many critics in this literature like, 

1. Harold Bloom :-

Known for his theories on the "anxiety of influence" and the concept of the "canonical" works in literature.

2. Virginia Woolf :-

Notable for her essays and criticism, advocating for women's roles in literature and society.

3. Jacques Derrida :-

Pioneered deconstruction, a method of literary analysis focused on revealing hidden meanings and contradictions in texts.

4. T.S. Eliot :-

T.S. Eliot, known for his influential poetry, was also a significant literary critic. His critical essays, like "Tradition and the Individual Talent," explored the nature of poetry and its relationship to tradition and the artist's role in creating new works. 

Now let's discuss questions one by one...

Q-1. How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of Tradition? Do you agree with it? What do you understand by Historical Sense? (Use these quotes to explain your understanding.)

A-1.

➣ Concept of "Tradition" :-

According to Eliot, The Word "Tradition" disagreeable to the english a bact for these Which are individual. aspects who proise his Work and original. T.S. Eliot's concept of Tradition in literature involves a nuanced view. He believed that tradition isn't just about blindly following the past rather, it's about a dynamic relationship between the past and the present. 

Eliot's idea of Tradition encourages artists to be in conversation with the past, drawing inspiration and learning from earlier works while adding something unique and innovative. the interconnectedness of different time periods, recognizing how past events, thoughts, and works of literature continue to influence the present. 

Tradition does not mean a blind adherence to or solvish limitation of the ways of the previous generation. Tradition in the true sense of term connect be inherited,

"It can only be obtained by hord labour."

➣ Agree or Not Agree ? :-

Yes, I would agree with this concept of tradition. I think Eliot's perspective on Tradition and the historical sense offers valuable insights. It's valuable to learn from the past and build upon it when creating something new. I agree that looking back at the past can help us make better things in the present. 

According to T.S. Eliot,

• "The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past but of its presence."

• This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal, and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional.

➣ Understanding by Historical Sense:-

Eliot's assertion about the historical sense involving the "pastness of the past" and its "presence" suggests that to truly comprehend history. This idea implies that historical events, thoughts, and artistic creations from earlier periods are not obsolete but remain active forces that shape our understanding and actions today. Eliot's notion that the historical sense is both "timeless" and "temporal" underscores the idea that great writers possess an awareness of both the enduring, timeless elements of human experience and the specific historical contexts in which they write. 

I find Eliot's concept of Tradition compelling as it stresses the importance of understanding and engaging with the past while creating something relevant and meaningful in the present. According to T.S. Eliot, a traditional writer isn't confined to the past but synthesizes the historical and timeless elements in their work, creating something that speaks to both the present and the enduring aspects of human existence. 

Q-2. What is the relationship between "tradition" and "individual talent," according to the poet T. S. Eliot?

A-2.

According to the T.S. Eliot :-

T.S. Eliot was make an interesting principle between "tradition" and "individual talent". He suggested that for an artist to create something meaningful and original at that time they must engage with the tradition of literature that came before them. He argued that an artist's talent is not isolated from the past but is influenced by it. 

According to Eliot, the poet or artist is not separate from tradition but is rather a part of it. Eliot also emphasizes the role of the individual talent or the artist's unique creativity within this tradition. The individual talent, providing a framework within which the artist can create, innovate, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of artistic expression. Tradition for Eliot, is not a rigid set of rules but a living, evolving body of work that extends into the past and anticipates the future.

According to T.S. Eliot,

"This undue stress on individuality should that the English have an uncritical mind".

The poet's individual talent, then, is manifested in their ability to reinvigorate and transform the existing tradition. It's not about breaking away from the past but contributing something unique and valuable to it. Eliot sees tradition and individual talent as collaborators rather than adversaries. The individual talent gains significance by being part of a broader tradition, and tradition gains vitality and relevance through the contributions of individual talents.

✧ "Some can absorb knowledge; the more tardy must sweat for it. Shakespeare acquired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole British Museum".

Explanation :-

This quote is saying that some people are able to learn things easily, almost like a sponge soaking up water, while others need to work much harder to learn the same things. Shakespeare, the famous writer, learned a lot about important history from reading Plutarch's works. He learned so much from Plutarch that it was like getting more valuable knowledge than most people could get from visiting and studying at the entire British Museum, which is a huge library and museum filled with lots of information and history. 

It praises Shakespeare's ability to learn a great deal from just one source, Plutarch, compared to how much others might need to work to gather the same amount of knowledge from many different places like the British Museum.

✧ "Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation are directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry."

Explanation :-

This quote means that when people talk about a poet's work, they should focus on discussing the poems themselves, not just judging or praising the poet as a person. Instead of judging or praising the poet personally, it's more important to understand and appreciate the poetry—the words, the feelings, and the meaning behind them. Rather than saying things like "the poet is nice" or "the poet is not good," it's better to say things like "the poem is well-written because of its beautiful language" or "the poem could improve by adding more details." 

Q-3. How would you like to explain Eliot's theory of depersonalization? You can explain this with the help of a chemical reaction in the presence of a catalyst agent, platinum.

A-3.

Theory of depersonalization :-

In a chemical reaction, a catalyst (like platinum) helps speed up the process without changing itself. Similarly, in poetry, Eliot suggests that poets should aim to depersonalize their emotions and experiences. Just as the catalyst doesn't get consumed in the reaction but helps things happen faster, poets, according to Eliot, should detach themselves from their emotions in a way that their personal experiences aren't the main focus of the poem. 

T.S. Eliot's theory of depersonalization in poetry is about poets stepping back from their personal emotions and experiences. Eliot believed that by depersonalizing their emotions, poets could create more powerful and universal poetry. It's like they're using their feelings as raw material to craft something that speaks to everyone, not just about their personal lives.

A result of skillful craftsmanship and the language used, rather than being solely about the poet's feelings. In this theory, depersonalization is like the catalyst: it helps the poem reach its full potential by allowing emotions to transform into a broader, more relatable experience for the reader, without being limited to the poet's personal context.

T.S. Eliot thought poets should aim to create poetry that touches a wider audience by tapping into shared human emotions and experiences. This way, the poetry becomes more relatable and meaningful to many people, not just the poet.

✧ "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. "Write two points on which one can write a critique of T.S. Eliot as a critic.

Explanation :-

Here we can see that two points that someone might critique about T.S. Eliot as a critic based on the statement "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".

➤ Limiting Emotion in Poetry :-

Some might argue that Eliot's view restricts the emotional depth and personal connection that poetry can offer. By emphasizing the escape from emotion and personality, critics might say he overlooks the power of raw, personal emotions in poetry. They could argue that emotions, when expressed authentically, can create profound connections between the poet and the reader, enhancing the impact of the poem.

➤ Underestimating Individual Expression :-

Eliot's emphasis on escaping personality might be seen as downplaying the importance of individual expression in poetry. Critics might argue that by discouraging the expression of personal experiences or identity in poetry, Eliot's approach could limit the diversity and richness of poetic voices. They might suggest that embracing and celebrating diverse personal perspectives could contribute to a more varied and vibrant literary landscape.

Conclusion :-

Some people might disagree with T.S. Eliot's idea that poetry should escape from strong emotions and avoid expressing personal experiences. They could argue that allowing emotions and individual perspectives in poetry makes it more relatable and diverse. 

T.S. Eliot's quote in his own word,

"Not only the best, but the most individual part of his work may be those in which the dead poets, his ancestors, assert their immortality most vigorously".