Leonard Ungar: The symbolic use of displeasing images organizes the poem in a pattern that develops the "larger theme of the individual's isolation".
MY REACTION: I agree with Ungar that the negative images develop the theme because Eliot believes in the evils of mankind. The best way to convey this idea is through comparison to other abhorrent events/situations. His comparison of city life to the wintertime achieves this effectively.
I.A. Richards: Someone reading Preludes needs to avoid imposing a personally satisfying intellectual meaning onto the poem, thereby "adding something which does not belong to the poem. "
MY REACTION: Richards brings up a good point that applies to many works-do not analyze something that is not meant to be analyzed, and do not make an analysis that is satisfying to your personal feelings about the topic. I also agree that readers should not add something which does not belong because the poet write the poem with the purpose and adding your own words just deprecates the poem's emotion and intellect.
Ann Brady: "Preludes" has the special problem of being "too objective."
MY REACTION: I do not agree with Brady's comment. She claims that it is too fact-based and does not rely on emotions. I, however, do not agree because modernization is not always destructive and many people support modernization over traditional ways. This poem was very based on personal feelings and emotions about the topic, and Eliot did an excellent job in conveying his attitude on the subject.
MY REACTION: I agree with Ungar that the negative images develop the theme because Eliot believes in the evils of mankind. The best way to convey this idea is through comparison to other abhorrent events/situations. His comparison of city life to the wintertime achieves this effectively.
I.A. Richards: Someone reading Preludes needs to avoid imposing a personally satisfying intellectual meaning onto the poem, thereby "adding something which does not belong to the poem. "
MY REACTION: Richards brings up a good point that applies to many works-do not analyze something that is not meant to be analyzed, and do not make an analysis that is satisfying to your personal feelings about the topic. I also agree that readers should not add something which does not belong because the poet write the poem with the purpose and adding your own words just deprecates the poem's emotion and intellect.
Ann Brady: "Preludes" has the special problem of being "too objective."
MY REACTION: I do not agree with Brady's comment. She claims that it is too fact-based and does not rely on emotions. I, however, do not agree because modernization is not always destructive and many people support modernization over traditional ways. This poem was very based on personal feelings and emotions about the topic, and Eliot did an excellent job in conveying his attitude on the subject.