Prelude I
T.S. Eliot
The winter evening settles down
With smells of steaks in passageways.
Six o'clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
Of withered leaves about your feet
And newspapers from vacant lots;
The showers beat
On broken blinds and chimney-pots,
And at the corner of the street
A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.
And then the lighting of the lamps.
With smells of steaks in passageways.
Six o'clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
Of withered leaves about your feet
And newspapers from vacant lots;
The showers beat
On broken blinds and chimney-pots,
And at the corner of the street
A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.
And then the lighting of the lamps.
ANALYSIS- TPCASTT
Title: The title Prelude I suggests that this poem is the first of a group of poems about a common topic, perhaps in different points of views. The word "prelude" can also trace back to Eliot's musical experiences, implying that this poem might have a rhythmic beat. If this is so, the title is literal.
Paraphrase: The first line tells readers that it takes place during a winter evening. The second line says that the smell of steak dinners is wafting through the streets. The third line very straightforwardly states that the time is six o' clock. The fourth line explains the lack of energy in the city. The fifth line describes strong, windy raining. The sixth and seventh lines detail the dirty environment and the dying leaves. Line eight implies that parking lots are empty, everyone has gone home, and newspapers are left behind. Lines nine reiterates the relentless rain and line ten narrates a tattered setting. Line eleven interjects with the old-fashioned horse, the first sign of hope and liveliness in the poem. Lastly, line thirteen transmits the idea of streetlamps being lit.
Connections and Literary Devices: The literal word "winter" in line one establishes the setting for this poem. The other words in the poem, both literal and figurative, support the motif of winter and the mood that accompanies it. The "gusty" rain and "grimy scraps" implies a dirty, violent atmosphere. The words "withered", "vacant", and "broken" are negative and harsh, indicating a pessimistic view about the topic. The "smell of steaks" and "burnt-out ends" have the literal meanings of steaks and cigarettes, respectively, but have the figurative connotation of pollution and impurity. This pessimistic view of the city expresses T.S. Eliot's disapproval of modern society. This poem conveys his cynical views and he applies several literary devices to accomplish this. He uses metaphor to compare this civilization to the wintertime, a time which symbolizes the end of life and a gloomy aura. Eliot uses imagery in line nine with the phrase "the showers beat" because it paints a picture of incessant rain. Later, the small glint of hope in line twelve with the lively, traditional horse is quickly contradicted by the bright, new-age lights. This symbolizes the loss of meaning in the modern, urban world and how the new age is greatly overpowering the traditional way of life that is favored by Eliot.
Attitude: In this case, Eliot is both the speaker and the poet. His attitude towards city life and the modernized world is pessimistically critical. As stated before, he compares it to the wintertime because he wants to portray the same gloom and lifelessness that is associated with winter. He also criticizes society for their modernization and destruction of the city. Overall he has a negative point of view and is bitter about the new way of life.
Shifts: Major structural shifts occur in lines three and nine. These lines are particularly short and curt unlike the longer, flowing lines that surround them. A major emotional shift occurs after the first three lines of the poem. Although the whole poem is full of negativity about the topic, the first three lines are subtly disparaging. The shift to the middle section is apparent because that is when the acrid word choice is incorporated. Another shift happens after line ten into line twelve. The mention of the horse on the street corner is a lively, happy addition that contrasts the bitter tone before. After this line, the mood shifts from merry back to inadequate with the denunciation of human behavior.
Title Again: Reflecting back on the title, the first guess was pretty accurate. Prelude I is in fact the first poem in a group of four poems, all of which describe the atrocities of modern society. Also, as predicted, the poem was rhythmic.
Theme: The contemporary evils of modernization and mankind's behavior are destroying the peaceful environment established in traditional times. This epitomizes Eliot's point throughout the poem that the new age of humanity is responsible for the carnage done to old traditions.