The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot (classroom activity)

 This blog is my classroom activity.

 Here is link of classroom activity.

                                                Click here.

My answer of three question is below.

1) What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling myth-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

                                     

Ans 1)  Yes, I think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzche’s view because Eliot believes in divine power like God and also he was believed in spirituality and religion. On the other side Friedrich Nietzsche was   Philosopher so obviously his thoughts were logical  but he totally forward looking so he not believe in God and he say that “God is died”. Nietzsche was like atheist, he believe in human power is superior than God or like any divine power. He was such believe in progressive and forward looking not in God. He was not believed in any myth or superstitions. On the other side Eliot was totally believe into God and myth. So both are different from each other at a one level. In the poem “The waste Land” we have see various myths like Buddha, Christ, Tristan, Apollo etc... So was known as backward looking person. He has also taken some mythical symbols like: Religious, River, Buddhist, season, thunder, animal world, Christianity, landscape water etc…  He uses many references from the past and present also. This poem is about Europe civilization, but it was connected with past and present. So we can say that Eliot and Nietzsche both are totally different from each other.

2) Prior to the speech, Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:

                                        

    What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed       'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?

   

Ans 2)   In the second question that prior to the speech Gustaf Hellastrom of Swedish academy he says to salvation of man lie. Eliot views are more philosophical and he is believed in religious thinking.  Eliot believes in human law but Freud believes in individual thinking. So it is true that free vent to the repressed ‘primitive instinct’ lead as to happy and satisfied life but this depend on individuality. The thinking of Eliot and Freud are in opposite direction. Freud was believed in collective consciousness and Eliot believes in salvation which lies in the preservation of cultural tradition. It is preexisted means already there and which must preserve it chaos is to be avoided.

 

3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?
 

Ans 3)  Allusion to the Indian thought we have found various ways in this poem “The waste Land”. We have found various myth, cultures and also language to connect the world with one universal thought. Eliot uses many references like Buddhism, Christianity, Indian myths and many more for the solution of sexual perversion and spiritual degradation prevalent at that time in European civilization.

                   In the last part of the poem “What the thunder said” he described the solution of spiritual degradation by referring Indian culture and Upanishads. This title is from Upanishad – Prajapati spoken in thunder akashwani – to devotees are pointed out the way of salvation. He also referred in this part Himvant, then Ganga.

                   In this part Eliot uses the three “Da” taken from “Brihadaranyaka Upanishad".

1.) Datta – giver

2.) Dayadhvam – compassion

3.) Damyata – self-control

 Datta: What have we given?

             My friend blood shaking my heart

             The awful daring of a moment's surrender

              Which an age of prudence can never retract

              By this, and this only, we have existed

              Which is not to be found in our obituraies

              or in memories draped by the beneficient spider

              Or under seals broken by the lean solicitor

              In our empty rooms

Dayadhvam: I have heard the key

               Turn in the door once and turn once only

                We think of the key, each in his prision

               Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison

               Only at nightfall, aetherial rumours

              Revive for a moment a broken coriolanus

Damyata: The boat responded

            Gaily, to the hand expert with sail and oar

            The sea was calm, your heart would have

            responded

           Gaily, when invited, beating obedient

           To controlling hands

           I sat upon the shore

           Fishing, with the arid plain behind me

           Shall I at least set my lands in order?"

At last he uses

“Shantih shantih shantih”. This last line of the poem suggest a ultimate peace.