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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One of the most beautiful poems I've ever read, especially out loud. Each line, each word, each letter, each punctuation carefully placed. Here is my analysis of one of my favorite lines in the poem:
‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, the narrator keeps repeating, causing urgency to inundate the reader. It’s written in all capital letters without any punctuation, as if there is no time to stop and place any, even when it is needed: ‘ITS’ is grammatically incorrect and is supposed to be ‘IT’S’, but there’s no time for punctuation, HURRY. Also the capital letters suggest yelling, being loud, maybe even panicky. Also since the words are written in capital, in comparison to mostly small case of nearby lines, they keep attracting the reader’s attention towards them on the page; the reader is continuously aware of the phrase in the background. ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’ – it begs you ‘PLEASE’ – as if you have the power to HURRY UP. ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, as if something is running away. ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, my brain too keeps repeating amid never-ending work. In the context of nearby lines it’s about trying to retain Albert, but it soon seems to become bigger than that, as is it’s about life itself ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, but I am not entirely sure what it is we are HURRYING UP to do, is it living?
‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, the narrator keeps repeating, causing urgency to inundate the reader. It’s written in all capital letters without any punctuation, as if there is no time to stop and place any, even when it is needed: ‘ITS’ is grammatically incorrect and is supposed to be ‘IT’S’, but there’s no time for punctuation, HURRY. Also the capital letters suggest yelling, being loud, maybe even panicky. Also since the words are written in capital, in comparison to mostly small case of nearby lines, they keep attracting the reader’s attention towards them on the page; the reader is continuously aware of the phrase in the background. ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’ – it begs you ‘PLEASE’ – as if you have the power to HURRY UP. ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, as if something is running away. ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, my brain too keeps repeating amid never-ending work. In the context of nearby lines it’s about trying to retain Albert, but it soon seems to become bigger than that, as is it’s about life itself ‘HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME’, but I am not entirely sure what it is we are HURRYING UP to do, is it living?
I need to study this in more depth before I put my thoughts down properly.
Confusing as all hell but the language is really beautiful. The notes throughout this edition were SO helpful since I don't know the majority of the allusions that he was making.
Rating: 4 stars!
The Norton Edition is a fantastic choice to read this poem. The sources and footnotes are well-researched and show a lot of the background to the poem and Eliot himself. The Waste Land itself is a confusing poem, but the more I read through it, the more I came to appreciate it. If you’re going to make your way through The Waste Land, especially in an academic setting, I highly recommend this edition.
The Norton Edition is a fantastic choice to read this poem. The sources and footnotes are well-researched and show a lot of the background to the poem and Eliot himself. The Waste Land itself is a confusing poem, but the more I read through it, the more I came to appreciate it. If you’re going to make your way through The Waste Land, especially in an academic setting, I highly recommend this edition.