The Works of T.S. Eliot 11: The Waste Land Part I

[@poemsandliterature3011]

I was transported to a different world while listening to this lecture. You are an amazing teacher. Heartfelt thanks.

[@syedabbas1243]

Exquisite, brilliant. Why can't more people have such a clear perspective as yours?

[@ToBrowseAwhile]

What a wonderful enlightenment taking the listener step by step through this poem. The delivery of this lecture is so calm and knowledgable. Thank you so much for this.

[@drshraddhagupta4421]

One of the best lectures on The Waste Land. Hats off to you Professor Victor Strandberg

[@17writing]

Thank you so much! Frankly, this poem seemed impossibly difficult and obscure, even after the lecture and class I had on The Waste Land at my university, but I think I have a much better understanding. Thank you again!

[@moicecibon4768]

Magnificent Professor, great lecture.

[@stellaboulton9531]

After luke-warm, some more appropriate words for this amazing man. He is brilliant.

[@happylindsay4475]

These lectures are magnificent!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge

[@infinitafenix3153]

Thanks very much for your precious work, I love and enjoy these lectures!

[@dagliocchibui]

I think the measure of a professor’s worth lies in explaining such complex poetry in a way that is understandable by everyone. I am in love with The Waste Land and always look for inspiration to try and make my high school students love it as much as I do. Thank you for sharing this delightful lecture ❤️

[@rasmustravels]

I cannot thank you enough. That was one outstanding lecture!

[@danielavecchia14]

Fantastic! Thank you very much and a huge hug from Brazil!

[@jagritisingh1117]

This was an enriching lecture.thank you Professor.

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

Dear Professor, - many thanks for your wonderful lectures, - I learn so much. As a musician, however, I must bring to your attention that the words from Wagner’s ‘Tristan’ in the first part are not spoken by Tristan to Isolde, but are the sarcastic remarks addressed to Isolde at the very beginning of the opera, by the Sailor (Seemann). Therefore, the translation of ‘sweetheart’ for ‘Kind (child)’ is inappropriate. Forgive my Beckmesserian correction.

[@mmccauley57]

What a boss. Thanks Professor!

[@johnbarry7167]

An incredible lecture, thank you

[@anacarvalho5518]

Amazing!!!

[@drewyt3109]

Absolutely fantastic!

[@redo88]

Great class!!! Thanks.

[@JosiahWarren]

Wow didn't expected that

[@marijkevissers8023]

Great explanation, thanks a lot

[@rstokes9630]

Thank you!

[@bondzuckerman9035]

Who has the gall to be putting a thumbs down on this?

[@charliewest1221]

Some jealous ah soul.

[@facebookfacebook3926]

And what does he mean by the red rock? is it figurative usage of literal usage?

[@17writing]

My professor mentioned that this may be a reference to the Grand Canyon, which if you think about it, is a kind of waste land. I personally think this is a viable interpretation, as Eliot was American after all (he emmigrated to England later in life).

[@Luisa8783]

Sorry but I have to correct one particular : " il miglior fabbro" in Italian , means "the best blacksmith" not " the best writer or atrist" ... Probably because he metaforically worked on the huge poem by reducing and cutting it , just like blacksmiths work on metals moulding them...By the way , perfect Italian pronounciation, my compliments...

[@charliewest1221]

The professori, now he use it the "writer or ARTIST" METAPHORICALLY. Salute!

[@belleme861]

Amazing. Thank you.

[@richardrumana5025]

In the last part of the Wasteland, What The Thunder Said, is the "Thunder" a good voice or an evil presence? "...there is no water" This does not sound very good.

[@charliewest1221]

Rain is imminent.

[@richardrumana5025]

@@charliewest1221 Nice interpretation. Is it your own opinion or Do you think Eliot shared your hopeful optimism? Eliot was something of a Christian; The return of Christ on Earth is the Living Rain? Although, at other time he seems pessimistic and resign to despair.

[@charliewest1221]

@@richardrumana5025 Hello Richard, trusting you’re well. I’m not sure as I’m still searching. The following lines from Part V seem to suggest to me that, amid the images of sterility, rain is imminent. The monosyllabic response in “DA” may be indicative of this. "In this decayed hole among the mountains In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing Over the tumbled graves, about the chapel There is the empty chapel, only the wind’s home. It has no windows, and the door swings, Dry bones can harm no one. Only a cock stood on the rooftree Co co rico co co rico In a flash of lightning. Then a damp gust Bringing rain Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves Waited for rain, while the black clouds Gathered far distant, over Himavant. The jungle crouched, humped in silence. Then spoke the thunder DA" I intend exploring “The Four Quartets”. I sense that TWL is germane to TFQ, that Eliot contemplated his conversion to Christianity while he was working on TWL, that both these works are organic. We shall see. We shall not cease from exploration … Cheers.

[@katmandew2152]

Thank you.

[@ojcojj]

It's an amazing video. I also made a video about Eliot's "Wasteland" in April. I hope you enjoy the good video.

[@charliewest1221]

Link please?

[@TheWhitehiker]

Speed to 1.25 for easier listening--Victor is a ponderous speaker.

[@charliewest1221]

Nonsense.

[@TheWhitehiker]

@@charliewest1221 Nonsense.

[@johnbradshaw5097]

A Scapeshifter

[@andrews527]

Lose the medallion.

[@stellaboulton9531]

Find a brain, David, please ....somewhere....there's got to be one going semi-free that would suit you and look nice and pretty on top of your empty head.

[@sonyabadigian]

Aligning with the poem's theme of the naturalistic loss of the myth of rebirth, my interpretation of the opening lines was that April is the cruelest month not because of the uprising of desire but because Spring is when nature appears to "resurrect" after the wintertime, mocking the human inability to be born again.

[@charliewest1221]

It's a reasonable interpretation. The resurrection in spring is naturalistic in the wasteland ... there can be no spiritual resurrection in the wasteland.

[@trevorm8758]

I’ve studied this poem for years and only now after watching this first part of your lecture do I feel like I actually understand it’s depth and various allusions. Thank you, Professor!

[@charliewest1221]

The good professor is a teacher in the true sense of the word ... no pedantics, no showboating, no fancy intellectual footwork. Bless him and Duke University.

[@guitikamali4979]

Outstanding!! Thank you professor

[@utror]

Please provide links of .more lectures

[@louiserees1676]

Thank you so much! I love this poem, but have always struggled to understand it. You explain it so clearly.

[@thewestlingfanatic2405]

I just casually clicked the video when I stumbled across it but the lecture is so fascinating and comprehensive that it arrested all my attention and believe me, I couldn't keep track of time how these 45 mints passed. The guy seems learned.

[@MarniMorrows]

“The guy seems learned.” Yah think?! 😉

[@charliewest1221]

Not only learned but humble and sensitive to the needs of students. He has a genuine desire to TEACH, TO SHARE, TO ENLIGHTEN.

[@federicotak3300]

I'm no scholar of English, but the poem lends itself to multiple interpretations that are simply fascinating to unravel. Good work.

[@facebookfacebook3926]

Federico Tak true

[@komal402]

Most interesting background and interpretation of Wasteland. From Babel, Princess Antonette,Austria,Romanov dynasty , Music of Wagner, Hyacinth girl, Tempest by Shakespeare to Dante's Divine Comedy.Resurrection, Theory of the Wheel, Bourderlaire, Opera Tristan and Isolda,etc etc Really mind gripping talk! Most enjoyable too. The speaker is obviously rich in Literature and very knowledgeable and well informed.

[@charliewest1221]

Most of the lectures I have listened to evade these allusions and their relevance to context.

[@facebookfacebook3926]

Please answer me What does the author mean by these lines The cricket no relief and the dry stone no sound of water.

[@sushamaabhishek5170]

That there is no possibility of a salvation in this wasteland. No Messiah like Moses will arrive to strike a stone that will spout water to sustain life. There is no possibility for a miracle.

[@abdehammid5183]

Thank you professor!

[@MiataBRG]

Playing this at 1.5 speed works well...

[@vespelian5769]

A nice appraisal.

[@charliewest1221]

"Nice" is a lazy word.

[@gerasimosmakris8664]

Thank you very much. I have hugely enjoyed your lectures and learnt a lot. As a professor of social anthropology I am a bit skeptical about the academic value of The Golden Bough and From Ritual to Romance. Of course, this does not diminish their value as sources of inspiration for T. S. Elliot. On the whole, I am really obliged to you.

[@michaelwu7678]

Could you please elaborate on why you’re skeptical regarding The Golden Bough and From Ritual to Romance? Is the methodology suspect or are there great leaps in logic? Thanks

[@TheWhitehiker]

You be Woke?