What is the meaning of the poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

What is the meaning of the poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

It is an examination of the tortured psyche of the prototypical modern man—overeducated, eloquent, neurotic, and emotionally stilted. Prufrock, the poem’s speaker, seems to be addressing a potential lover, with whom he would like to “force the moment to its crisis” by somehow consummating their relationship.

How many lines Is The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

140

Who are you and I in the first line of Prufrock?

But since no one has ever returned alive from this depth, if what I hear is true, without fear of infamy I respond to you.” Line 1: The identity of “you and I” shifts throughout the poem. Here Prufrock seems to be alone and talking to himself. Later the “you” is the woman he wants to seduce, possibly propose to.

What kind of poem is The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

dramatic monologue
The poem is a dramatic monologue, in which the speaker narrates the anxieties and preoccupations of his inner life.

What line is the tree waved as I walked by?

The line – “the tree waved as I walked by” showcases the trees as humans and as they wave at him. He has also personified the “Yellow fog” like a dog or even a lurking cat. Metaphor: There are various metaphors used in this poem. “Hollywood” stands for entertainment.

How does the first line suggest that Prufrock sees himself as divided?

How can the first line of this dramatic monologue be interpreted to suggest that Prufrock sees himself as divided, both seeking and fearing action? This man feels very divided. He sees these women and wants desperately to speak to them, but can’t bring himself to do so. You just studied 5 terms!

Why does Eliot describe the fog as a cat in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” Eliot describes the fog using the metaphor of a cat to provide readers with a familiar image of an unfamiliar phenomenon. It is both vivid and appropriate.

When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall meaning?

He imagines himself “sprawling on a pin” and put, “wriggling,” on a wall. He’s referring to the practice, in his time, where insects that were collected by scientists were “pinned” inside a glass frame and hung on a wall so they could be preserved and inspected.

When the evening is spread out against the sky meaning?

It is almost as if the poem is a suspended moment of realization of one man’s life, “spread out against the sky”. The imagery of the patient represents Prufrock’s self-examination. Furthermore, the imagery of the “etherised patient” denotes a person waiting for treatment.

Do I dare disturb the universe which best describes the meaning of these lines?

Which best describes the meaning of these lines? The speaker is content with his accomplishments and his place in the world. The speaker fears that no one around him will notice if he disappears. The speaker believes he can change his environment in a positive way.

Which is an example of an allusion from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

For example, Prufrock was compared to John the Baptist, Lazarus and Hamlet. These allusions displays Prufrock’s intense self-depreciation. The following lines “Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter, / I am no prophet — and here’s no great matter;” alludes to the Bible.

What do his descriptions of the sky and the city in lines 1/2 suggest about Prufrock’s outlook on life?

What do his descriptions of the sky and the city in lines 1-12 suggest about Prufrock’s outlook on life? This image of the city is not pleasant. It’s tone is full of worry and dullness.

Why does Eliot use allusions?

Allusions are indirect passages or references. Eliot used a lot of allusions to illustrate the emotions and conflicts happening within Prufrock. These allusions also aided in setting the hopelessness and pessimistic tone of the poem. The opening stanza1 is an allusion to Dante Alighieri’s Inferno.

What does Prufrock compare himself to in lines 57 58?

The speaker continues to doubt himself and compares his existence in a room full of people to that of an insect “sprawling on a pin” and “pinned and wriggling on the wall” (57-58).

Who is the speaker in love song?

As the title of the poem announces, the speaker is J. Alfred Prufrock, a fictional lyrical character which can also be associated with a persona of the poet himself.

What does half deserted streets mean?

adjective. (of a place) not having many inhabitants, visitors, etc.

Which best describes the meaning of these lines the speaker is content with his accomplishments and his place in the world the speaker fears that no?

What literary device is used in the following lines from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

Simile: A simile is a device used to compare two different objects to understand meanings by comparing these object’s qualities. “The streets that follow like a tedious argument” is one of the examples of simile used in the poem.

Why does Prufrock allude to Lazarus?

Lazarus is a figure in the Bible who came back from the dead [2]. This relates to Prufrock as he feels dead. The feeling of being lifeless makes him question if being lively and vigorous is worth it. The lines below allude to Prince Hamlet.

What attitude is connoted by the word snicker as it is used in line 85?

The attitude connoted by the word snicker is condescending disrespect.

What is Prufrock’s conflict?

Prufrock is an embodiment of split personality- a separation of head and heart, a paralysis of the will and too much worry regarding a love proposal. Prufrock refers to Hamlet and this enables us to understand is psychological trouble. He suffers from emotional frustration.

What kind of poem is the Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock?

This poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock stands foremost in the poems Prufrock and other Observations (1917). It markes a complete break with the nineteenth century poetic tradition. It is urban in its theme and setting.

What was the initial reaction to ‘the love song’ by J Alfred Prufrock?

The initial reaction to ‘ The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ can be summed up in a contemporary review published in The Times Literary Supplement, on the 21st of June 1917. The anonymous reviewer wrote: “The fact that these things occurred to the mind of Mr. Eliot is certainly of the very smallest importance to anyone, even to himself.

What is the meaning of the title J Alfred Prufrock?

“J. Alfred Prufrock” is a farcical name, and Eliot wanted the subliminal connotation of a “prude” in a “frock.”. (The original title was “Prufrock Among the Women.”) This emasculation contributes to a number of themes Eliot will explore revolving around paralysis and heroism,…

What are the allusions in the poem Prufrock?

His poetry, including “Prufrock,” is peppered with allusions to the Greeks, Shakespeare, the Metaphysicals, and more. Eliot does not neglect the modern, however; it is often front and center, usually with unfavorable comparisons to the past.