Bridge Course: Written assignment on 'Tradition and Individual Talent'

 Hello, This blog is part of our study. This Bridge Course: The written assignment was assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir Department of English MKBU. In this task, we have to watch five short videos which are based on key concepts in the essay 'Tradition and Individual Talent' We have to give their responses to the below-given questions/thoughts.

T.S. Eliot's Tradition and Individual Talent

Introduction:-

"Tradition and the Individual Talent" is an essay written by T.S. Eliot that was first published in 1919. In the essay, Eliot argues that the true value of an artist's work lies not in the artist's individual talent, but in how that talent fits into the larger tradition of art. According to Eliot, the artist's task is not to create something entirely new and original, but to take the works of the past and build upon them, adding to the tradition and creating something that is both new and connected to the past. Eliot believed that the true measure of an artist's success was the ability to create work that was both deeply personal and connected to the larger tradition of art.

This theory of tradition also highlights Eliot's anti-Romanticism. Unlike the Romantics' idea of original creation and inspiration, Eliot's concept of tradition foregrounds how important older writers are to contemporary writers: Homer and Dante are Eliot's contemporaries because they inform his work as much as those alive in the twentieth century do. James Joyce looked back to ancient Greek myth (the story of Odysseus) for his novel set in modern Dublin, Ulysses (1922). Ezra Pound often looked back to the troubadours and poets of the Middle Ages.

As Eliot puts it, 'Someone said: "The dead writers are remote from us because we know so much more than they did." Precisely, and they are that which we know.' Eliot's essay goes on to champion impersonality over personality. That is, the poet's personality does not matter, as it's the poetry that he produces that is important. Famously, he observes: 'Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things.'

Eliot sets himself apart from such a Romantic notion of poetry. This is in keeping with his earlier argument about the importance of tradition: the poet's personality does not matter, only how their work responds to, and fits into, the poetic tradition.

Here this is the responses to the Questions which are in sir's blog.

https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2014/12/t-s-eliot-tradition-and-individual.html

1. What is the relationship between “tradition” and “individual talent,” according to the poet T. S. Eliot?

In his essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent," T. S. Eliot argues that tradition is an essential element of artistic creation and that the individual talent of the artist must be seen in the context of the broader literary tradition. Eliot asserts that the work of the individual artist must be seen in the context of the entire history of literature and that the artist must engage with and be influenced by tradition in order to create something new and original.

According to Eliot, tradition is not just a collection of past works, but rather a living entity that is constantly evolving and being shaped by the artistic contributions of each new generation. The individual artist is a part of this tradition and must be aware of the influence of the past in order to create something meaningful and original. Eliot believes that the artist must be able to draw on the past and use it as a foundation, while also bringing something new and innovative to the tradition.

Eliot argues that artists must be able to balance their individual talent and creative vision with a deep understanding and appreciation of the tradition in which they are working. This balance allows the artist to create works that are both deeply rooted in the past and also forward-looking and innovative. In this way, the relationship between tradition and individual talent is one of interdependence and mutual influence, with each shaping and informing the other.

2. Explain: "Some can absorb knowledge, the more tardy must sweat for it. Shakespeare acquired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole British Museum".

In this quote, Eliot is suggesting that some people are naturally more able to absorb and retain knowledge, while others must work harder to acquire it. He uses the example of Shakespeare, who was able to gain a deep understanding of history through reading the works of Plutarch, rather than having to rely on more traditional sources such as the British Museum.

Eliot is implying that Shakespeare was able to absorb and understand knowledge more quickly and easily than others and that this natural ability allowed him to gain a deep understanding of history without having to spend as much time and effort as others might have needed. At the same time, Eliot is also suggesting that the British Museum, as a more traditional source of knowledge, may not be as effective for some people as other methods of learning.

Eliot is making the point that there are different ways in which people can acquire knowledge and that some people may be better suited to certain methods than others. He is also suggesting that traditional sources of knowledge, such as museums and libraries, may not always be the most effective ways for people to learn and that alternative methods, such as reading the works of individual authors, may be more effective for some people.

3. Explain: "Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry"

In this quote, Eliot is suggesting that criticism and appreciation of poetry should be focused not on the person who wrote the poetry, but rather on the poetry itself. He is arguing that the quality of the poetry should be the primary focus of critical analysis and appreciation, rather than the personality or background of the poet.

Eliot is emphasizing the importance of objective, unbiased criticism, and appreciation, which looks at the poetry on its own terms and evaluates it based on its own merit, rather than being influenced by personal or extraneous factors. He is suggesting that criticism and appreciation should be centered on the poetry itself, rather than being focused on the poet or other external factors. According to Eliot, the poet is not the center of the literary tradition, but rather a part of it, and the focus of criticism and appreciation should be on the poetry itself rather than the poet as an individual. Eliot is making the point that honest, sensitive criticism and appreciation of poetry requires a focus on the poetry itself and an ability to evaluate it objectively, rather than being influenced by personal or external factors.

4. Explain: " Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality." 

In this quote, Eliot is suggesting that poetry is not simply a way of expressing emotion or personality, but rather a way of escaping from or transcending them. He is arguing that poetry serves a different function than simply being an outlet for personal feelings or a means of self-expression.

According to Eliot, poetry is not just about the expression of emotion or personality, but rather about the creation of something new and original. He suggests that poetry allows the poet to transcend their own emotional states and personal experiences and create something that is universal and timeless. In this way, Eliot is arguing that poetry is not just about the expression of the poet's own emotions or personality, but rather about the creation of something that goes beyond the personal and speaks to a wider audience.

Eliot's view of poetry as an escape from emotion and personality can be seen as part of his broader belief in the importance of tradition and the role of the poet within the literary tradition. According to Eliot, the poet must be able to draw on the past and the tradition in order to create something new and original, and this requires a certain detachment from the personal and emotional. In this way, Eliot's view of poetry as an escape from emotion and personality can be seen as part of his broader belief in the importance of tradition and the role of the poet within it.

5. Write two points on which one can write a critique on 'T.S. Eliot as a critic'. 

1. T.S. Eliot's views on tradition and the role of the poet within it: One aspect of T.S. Eliot's work as a critic that could be the focus of a critique is his views on tradition and the role of the poet within it. Eliot argued that tradition was an essential element of artistic creation and that the individual talent of the artist must be seen in the context of the broader literary tradition. His views on tradition and the role of the poet within it have been widely influential and have shaped the way that many people think about literature and artistic creation.

2. T.S. Eliot's use of literary theory and philosophy: Another aspect of Eliot's work as a critic that could be the focus of a critique is his use of literary theory and philosophy in his critical writings. Eliot was deeply interested in the intersection of literature and philosophy, and his work as a critic often incorporated ideas from a wide range of philosophical and theoretical sources. This use of literary theory and philosophy in his critical writings has had a significant impact on the field of literary criticism and has shaped the way that many people think about literature and its relationship to broader intellectual and cultural issues.

Thank you for Reading...

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