A discussion of T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" from the online course Classics of American Literature: T.S. Eliot, taught by Duke University English Professor Victor Strandberg.
Пікірлер: 78
@BleakStarshine4 жыл бұрын
I just wanted to say that these videos saved my HSC, discussing the spiritual importance of T.S Eliot was coincidentally exactly what the final exam was about and I would like to thank Professor Victor Strandburg for this awesome series of videos. Couldn't have done it without you!!!
@tryptamigo3 жыл бұрын
i'm 32 diving into things like poetry and philosophy finally in my life. wish i had more of an interest in uni and school, but i was distracted by other things when i was younger like games. it's hard to really appreciate having access to courses like this with such trivial ease, but i'm glad i finally came around.
@higherfrequencies63956 жыл бұрын
this was fantastic. Job well done. You brought that poem to life. Thank you.
@johnoleary98374 жыл бұрын
A very convincing reading - the realist and romantic voices pitted against one another
@bebeaggad33022 жыл бұрын
It’s fascinating to see the interpretation of a Christian man; to see this poem sexualized , I’ve been studying the poem for some time now , and have never made the connection . Thank you for the video I look forward to more .
@Lof_Lof-Ай бұрын
Thank you for your videos! I've enjoyed all the information greatly.
@veelvetta3 жыл бұрын
thank you so much Professor Strandberg, I studied Eliot from your lessons for my English literature exam, and I passed it with a very good grade!
@sugar_plum_street6 жыл бұрын
Great lecture, and the whole course is probably the most well-done piece on Eliot there is to find. Thanks so much for your work.
@AVirk5 жыл бұрын
Without doubt, this gentleman is so immensely eloquent! Thankyou so much sir ! I wish you do Yeats as well!
@infinitafenix31535 жыл бұрын
Your contribution is really valuable and unusual. Thank you very much!
@alexandrefreitas95582 ай бұрын
Thank you very much for this lectures. I congratulate you from Brazil.
@seymourtompkins3 жыл бұрын
this is brilliant. i have lived with this poem for the past 35 years most uncomfortably because it seemed so impenetrable. you have helped to cut through the fog, the smoke that curled around me brain every time I sat down to re-read the poem
@geertwissink3 жыл бұрын
Thanks - diving deep into one of my favorite poems never gets old!
That was an amazing lecture now I can enjoy the poem even more
@user-jt7og3yj5l6 жыл бұрын
Congratulations sir Victor Strandberg..My respect tou you from Greece.Fantastic lecture.
@spellboundtarot12643 жыл бұрын
My favorite poem out there. Eliot was a true genius. 🖤 thank you sir. 🖤
@mhenwood5412 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this Prof. Strandberg. This helped me immensely in my studies!
@fantasyray56063 жыл бұрын
Love this old professor. Intoxicating voice!
@winniewang38463 жыл бұрын
Wonderful wonderful wonderful! I couldn't thank you more!!!
@shaistakanwal77505 жыл бұрын
Well done uncle very nice explanation From Pakistan
@zaynablayth26122 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much. Your lectur is perfect. Enjoyed each and every second. ⚘
@monika_sulaniya3 жыл бұрын
Thanku so much Professor for this wonderful explanation... you literally renounced the professional jargon... hope you are healthy and happy.... lots of respect all the way from India 🙏🏻
@danielavecchia146 жыл бұрын
Thank you professor. Best lectures ever.
@dweepie733 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your splendid explanation of this great poem
@tatheerfatima37232 жыл бұрын
Beautifully explained! Always wanted to understand T.S. Eliot.
It was fantastic... I loved it. Thank you so much for the excellent lecture ❤️❤️❤️
@nameisrango3 жыл бұрын
Lovely poem and wonderful explanation. Thank you sir.
@harshitsharma86452 жыл бұрын
Thank you sir for your valuable insights. Great video
@AdnanAdilJournalist2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this wonderful lecture. Adnan Adil, Pakistan
@biswajitroy27314 жыл бұрын
Your explanation helps me a lot to understand this great poetry. Thanks a lot SIR. From India.
@smarajitganguly10873 жыл бұрын
Excellent video. Thank you.
@hejla45247 ай бұрын
This is so well explained and devoid of all the usual waffle associated with literary criticism.
@liz81294 жыл бұрын
This is just a wonderful explanation. Really helpful. Thankyou.
@AbdullahKhan-cy8cc5 жыл бұрын
thanks big man lad man boss man
@kamandshepherd13362 жыл бұрын
This was amazing! Thank you!
@pratzy144 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the succinct analysis
@tazkiaamara80434 жыл бұрын
Amazing!! Thank you, sir!
@SouvikBiswas4206 жыл бұрын
U have a great voice.
@Gustolfo6 жыл бұрын
Fantastic lecture.
@dirgantarapraditya24282 жыл бұрын
Love it's. Thank you
@KarensYoutubeChannel2 жыл бұрын
Following on your earlier lecture about the influence of naturalism, I believe this poem is best interpreted as an exlempar of Darwinian cultural evolution. I accept your point about Eliot being a Classissist but I feel that explaining the poem as an argument between realism and romanticism just touches the surface. You were right to say that Eliot was burdened by naturalism and in his first published work he truly shows us how. He chooses a Classical form ...a love song. There is no reason to attribute the lovesong to J. Alfred Prufrock, but natural science would name his being (so it is named) however Prufrock ironically asks in two ways if his classification (ie his name) is correct: 1) am I a pair of claws ...2) am I a man (you explained that question). Also the portarayal of body parts in the poem is not gruesome at all, in fact it is like a love song of natural scientists studying these parts. They are beautiful in the poem, even the severed head is beautiful because it is not just the poet's nod to religion, it's a broad metaphor. There is nothing distasteful when Prufrock notices downy hair on arms ...he also notices his thinning hair in the same way ...it's very human. Also you made not mention of Time in this, but it's VERY IMPORTANT. Beginning with the line ... The evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table...this describes the MOMENT. Time is measured by our internal clock by the changes in space, however Prufrock cannot move in this space and neither can the space! The sky must stay still for this moment...because there will be time, there will be time (meaning new definitions of time and how we percieve it according to Darwin). He **does not travel the streets**, he even asks if he should begin (ie start time ) by saying that he did, and should he tread the streets that follow (after the Roman Roads et. al). Oh the smoke...the yellow smoke. Why is it yellow? Why does Prufrock even notice it? Because it has light in it and light shows movement through time. So he stills the observation. He even cloaks the women in this stillness once constructed. The women who come and go, through rooms (like streets) talking of Michelango..who move through natural history. What that's about? Basically it highlights the 40K years of archeological and anthropological history that must be explained through a Darwinian framework of cultural evolution. Even the Epigraph is chosen for it's reference to naturalism. That is, if the story makes it out of hell it is **selected to do so**, and will therefore make its contribution to cultural evolution. The "sawdust" and "oyster shells" are about natural history. See the Pinnacles in Australia ...limestone that grew from trees and shells, and Gobecki Tepi that recreates them, and obviously the forest habitat of hunter gatherers is also a "sawdust restaurant". "That would be, Isuppose, the footmen being Time" you said... Time is everything in this. If he locks gazes with one of the women time will REALLY stop. But since he doesn't, and will not ask the question (modernism you said) (which is ... does Natural science explain everything ...and will my art evolve culture...). The black and white imagery for the ocean (like pages, like his poem), the drowning in the ocean: a pugilistic play on the Inferno. Settling a pillow ...that shows civilization. That situation is one where Prufrock decides that life itself, the contiuation of human life and culture, does not observe the rules of science, so the argument is not worthwhile. Natural science wins.
@17writing4 жыл бұрын
Very very helpful, thank you!
@PoojaKumari-tf8io5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the great lecture sir! Sometimes in between things were a little bit unclear...but those were negligible... Overall great job sir!😄
@zoobloo4 жыл бұрын
You sound so intellectual and eloquent yet I can understand exactly what you mean which makes me feel smart when I'm really not Haha, thank you!
@nur-e-nusratzereen53854 жыл бұрын
amazing voice & great help it was. hope I'll also get a discussion on 'Ash Wednesday' by you.
@irenel.39134 жыл бұрын
kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZbNlIlmab5qjrs :)
@MahmoudIsmail1988.3 жыл бұрын
Beautiful analysis
@mrigakshidas73466 жыл бұрын
thank you sir.....it was very helpful...
@collin62385 жыл бұрын
I think it a very existential poem
@K_F_fox3 жыл бұрын
I used to think that the Inferno quote was saying "Prufrock didn't expect you to read this." But, as of today, I think it's saying "yeah, you're in Hell, too, so I may as well tell you."
@SingleMalt770052 ай бұрын
It seems there is a consensus that the poem has a lot to do with Prufrock wanting to make a proposal to a woman, but I keep asking myself how can we be sure of that? Is it the only logical inference from the little info we are given? Is it necessarily the case?
Can you please suggest a few books for further reading Sir ? I really need some. I am searching for your books on Eliot or especially on Prufrock. I'll be thankful if you just guide me.
@justanotherpoet2542 Жыл бұрын
The peach is not a reference to potential digestive issues, but more realistically a pine for peachy cheeks.
@tatheerfatima37232 жыл бұрын
"the awful human burden of too much self knowledge." 👏
@evelynl.48853 жыл бұрын
How to cite this video?
@daytuh76023 жыл бұрын
11:33 that scared me so much
@angkuojha21436 жыл бұрын
Hello sir
@naushadkhan59711 ай бұрын
Fragmentation. Not a thorough analysis of poem needs more deep penetration into the split personality of Mr. Prufrock.
@collin62385 жыл бұрын
But I think you got the bit about the peach wrong
@mybabenuts4 жыл бұрын
Zarnticolz Rum I agree
@bredamaune20284 жыл бұрын
A wonderful educational video with brilliant clarity. Thank you
@seymourtompkins3 жыл бұрын
how ? do you think the point was that a peach is messy, too messy for Prufrock ? or was it sexual innuendo ?
@ronaldchevalier94583 жыл бұрын
@@seymourtompkins I understood it to be that Prufrock has false teeth. When T.S. Eliot was writing, the fitting of false teeth were probably not so good, and eating a peach in public might be embarrassing if his teeth slip out.
@seymourtompkins3 жыл бұрын
@@ronaldchevalier9458 Nice. That hadn't occurred to me. I assumed it was because peaches, especially in older folks, can lead to (shall we say) an abrupt need to use the restroom
@ivy94133 жыл бұрын
wys about hairy arms
@YamCherie9 ай бұрын
Is it me, or is this professor scrumtious?
@foley3254053 жыл бұрын
What a crashing, bombastic bore and he doesn't even touch on the true meaning of Prufrock, the quesion of life and death...to be or not to be....a one-dimensional, incomplete and eventually unsatisfying analysis. Can't imagine sitting in this man's class. .