Poetry is becoming one of the most popular kinds of art in the world. Poetry, in general, employs rhythmic and aesthetic language properties such as symbolism and phonaesthetics (Banerjee 12). Poetry is thought to have evolved at the time of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. The primary goal of this dissertation is to analyze how T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" had the greatest impact on British literary history. The Wasteland is widely regarded as one of the most important poems written in the twentieth century. It was first released in October 1922 by Horace publishers. The poem is written entirely in English. Some of the main characters in the poem are Fisher King, Tiresias, Philomela and Madame Sosostris.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The history and growth of British literature is divided into at least four periods. They include; Anglo – Saxon, medieval, renaissance, Victorians, the age of reason, romantics, modern and the transitional periods. The poem “The Wasteland” was written during the modern period which existed in between the years 1915 – 1960. (Banerjee 34) One of the main reasons as to why this poem is significant is the fact that it has a cultural impact on the readers. Unlike most poems that were written before, it is safe to state the fact that Elliot’s poem was quite different in that it was written based on British culture and livelihood. It is also important to note the fact that this poem led to the rise of more scholarly interpretation and critical analysis. Initially before Sir Eliot wrote the poem, the society did not pay much attention to poetic works. The aftermath of Sir Eliot writing the poem is the fact that people started analyzing poems critically. The study of poems was also introduced in schools for interpretation (Banerjee 28). In relation to this scenario, it is safe to state the fact the poem “The Wasteland” helped in creating an awareness on the importance or significance of poems.
The Wasteland is also significant in relation to the British literary history in that Sir Elliot helped to introduce writing styles that were not considered important. In relation to other poems that were written before “The Wasteland”, it is safe to state the fact that they did not have any mythic structure or narrative (Eliot 30). Secondly, they did not have a vast number of traditions and religious texts. The Wasteland is a very unique long poem that was written using the styles mentioned above. Sir Elliot used a vast number of traditions and religious texts to make his poem much more interesting. Despite the fact that he borrowed the idea from James Joyce, it is safe to state the fact that Sir Elliot is credited with creating emphasis and a reflection on how this styles are significant (Eliot 34). After this poem was published, more and more poetic artists in Britain and all over the World started using Sir Eliot’s styles. Slowly, the British style of writing poems started changing for the better. Basically, it is important to note the fact that Sir Elliot championed for the use of such styles since they helped in creating a catchy poem, secondly styles such as literally allusions are significant in that they help in regaining one’s psychological and spiritual illumination.
The wasteland is also regarded as one of the most important poems in the 20th Century as well as creating significant influence on British literary history in that it served as an example of how good poetry ought to look like. The Wasteland is a wonderful poem in that it is not all about a person’s experiences and feelings (Eliot 40). Basically, a good poem should not be based on one’s motives, personal experiences or feelings. In relation to the British literary history, a majority of the poems that were written before “The Wasteland” were based on personal experiences and feelings. Consequently, they were not as interesting and catchy. Generally, in reference to this example, it is safe to state the fact that after “The Wasteland” was written, British literary works took a new direction. Literary works were written on a new perspective. Basically, it is safe to state the fact Sir Eliot created a new dimension of how poetic artists created their literary works.
It is also important to note the fact that “The Wasteland” had the most significant influence on British literary history in that the poem helped to reinforce the theory of impersonality (Eliot 53) Poems that were that were written before the “The Wasteland” were not influential and did not create an impact when it came to bringing out the impersonality theory. Immediately after the release of the poem, poetic artists started writing their poems using the impersonality theory. As a result, there was a change in the style of writing poems. Generally, it is safe to state the fact that Sir Eliot created a society of poetics who wrote poems by applying the impersonality theory. In this case, it is safe to state the fact that “The Wasteland” contributed significantly in creating and defining most of the current modern British literary poetics works.
Basically, it is with no doubt that “The Wasteland” is relatively significant to the British literary history since it helped create a base on how modern poems look like. Generally, in reference to the British literary history, most of the poems that were written after 1922 were written using styles and techniques that were applied by Sir Elliot (Eliot 61). It is safe to state the fact that the history of British literary works can be divided into two phases. The first phase and second phase involves works that were written before and after the publication of the “The Wasteland.” Sir Elliot shaped and paved the way for modern artists. As mentioned earlier, he created styles that were not used by previous artists.
His style of writing was of significant influence to the British literary texts. Elliot’s poetry is also important in that it carries a message. His poem is well written in unity and coherence. Before “The Wasteland was published, poetic artists used to write poems that were coherent but did not carry any form of message. Sir Eliot’s poem carried an important message. Perhaps this is the main reason as to why it trended so much. As a result of Sir Eliot’s idea of writing poems that carried a message, poetic writers started writing poems that were coherent and full of unity (Eliot 58). Due to this abrupt turn in the style of writing, it is safe to state the fact that “The Wasteland” changed and shaped the British literary history significantly.
In simple terms, it is safe to the fact that the poem “The Wasteland” had the most significant influence on British literary history since it helped in changing the perception of poetic works. As mentioned earlier, after the poem was published, poets all over Britain and the World started writing poetic works that used styles that were similar to those of Sir Eliot. Most of the British literary works were focused on coherency, unity and content (Eliot 71). In conclusion, it is safe to state the fact that Sir Eliot played an important role in defining a good example of a poetic work. He also paved way for the growth of new artists that wrote literary pieces or works that were of great value. The Wasteland is an example of how good poetry sounds. It is with no doubt that is served as example to other artists on how they are supposed to write their works. To this date, “The Wasteland” is considered as one of the best poems. Its influence has been felt all over the World. Basically, it is safe to state the fact that Sir Eliot is greatly attributed to the British literary history due to his massive role in bringing the changes that have been mentioned above. The Wasteland will forever be a great piece of writing that has ever been written in the 20th century.
Works Cited
Banerjee, A. "Eliot: From St. Louis to The Waste Land." (2016): 166-174.
Eliot, Thomas Stearns. The Waste Land (Liveright Classics). WW Norton & Company, 2013.
Eliot, Thomas Stearns. THE WASTE LAND by TS Eliot. EPubYourBook, 2015.
