The Edwardian Age and modernist thomas and eliot.docx

\"The Edwardian Age,\" the speaker discusses the early years of the 20th century, a time of cultural, social, and political challenges that marked the end of Victorian certainties and the beginning of a new period. Known as the Edwardian period, it was a short but intense time of progress and change...

\"The Edwardian Age,\" the speaker discusses the early years of the 20th century, a time of cultural, social, and political challenges that marked the end of Victorian certainties and the beginning of a new period. Known as the Edwardian period, it was a short but intense time of progress and change. Edward VII became king in 1901, and the Liberal government continued social reforms, including the 1908 old-age pensions act and the 1911 National Insurance Act. However, the Liberals were divided between reformist and conservative elements, leading to the growth of the Labour Party and the recognition of trade unions. Political issues included the Irish question, the struggle for women\'s suffrage, and the growing economic power of the United States and Germany. The period was marked by significant events such as the Easter Rising in Ireland and the suffragette movement\'s militant actions. The economy was changing, with the British Empire expanding but being surpassed by the United States and Germany. Tensions between these countries eventually led to World War One, the most devastating period of war and crisis in human history. The war poets and modernist writers captured the horror and legacy of the war in their works. 00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled \"The Edwardian Age,\" Ian Foster discusses how the confident and assertive values of the Victorian era have fallen apart. The Boy War, the independence of Ireland, and the British Empire, among other factors, had significantly changed the world. The new roles of women and the approach of World War One marked the end of the Victorian age. The Belle Epoque and the Roaring Twenties were on the horizon, bringing glamour but also a terrible crisis known as the Great Depression. For further exploration, Foster suggests reading novels and poems by authors such as D.H. Lawrence, Joseph Conrad, K. Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Giuseppe Goretti, Anita Loos, and Vivo. Edwardian period in English literature: 1901 a 1910 due to the fact that king Edward VII reigned over England during this decade. However, some historians think that the literary trends of this age continued until the outbreak of World War 1 in 1912 and others who think that those trends continued until the end of the first world war in 1918. The opinions about that time vary because the literary features od this period didn't have sharp closing point in time. Important facts which influenced the literature of this period are: 1. The ED. AGE covers a traditional time between VICT. Stability and the impending holocaust of the first world war. 2. The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. 3. Power reduction of the parliamentarians thanks to the second Boer war in 1902 in south Africa split Britain into anti-and pro-war factions. 4. Women' social and political union founded in Manchester in 1903. 5. First congress for Freudian psychology was held in Salzburg in 1908. 6. The first transatlantic wireless signals were sent by Guglielmo Marconi. 7. Pablo Picasso started "cubism" between 1907 and 1911. 8. Albert Einstein published his theory of relativity in 1905. 9. Earest Rutherford published his book on radioactivity. 10. The write brothers invented the airplane engine and flew for the first time in 1908. 11. First woman in the world get to vote in Finland in 1906. 12. British class system remained rigid. 1. The change in economy brought new-found wealth and new demands. Literature of the time reflects indulgence in cuisine, fashion, entertainment and travels. 2. Advances in science had an effect in life and literature. Automobile, electricity, radio, film, etc, opened ned possibilities for art and artists. 3. The writers' attitude to the voice of the authority is critical unlike the submissive attitude of the Victorian writers. 4. The Victorian style still continues. 5. Women issues come to light in literary works. 6. The poor finds a stronger voice in literature. 7. Emphasis on moral conduct and prudery declines. 8. Creater awareness of human rights influences writings. **Attitude of the Speaker** **Attitude**: The speaker in "The Man He Killed" exhibits a reflective and somewhat conflicted attitude. He tries to rationalize his actions but is clearly troubled by the senselessness of war. [His tone is conversational and introspective, revealing his inner turmoil and confusion](https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-literature-gcse-level/poetry/pre-1914-poems/man-he-killed-thomas-hardy). **Choice of Language and Syntax**: - **Simple, Colloquial Language**: The speaker uses everyday language and short, simple words, which makes the poem feel like a casual conversation. [This choice of language helps convey the speaker's ordinary background and makes his reflections more relatable](https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-literature-gcse-level/poetry/pre-1914-poems/man-he-killed-thomas-hardy). - **Repetition and Pauses**: The use of repetition (e.g., "because --- / Because he was my foe") and pauses (caesura) highlights the speaker's hesitation and uncertainty. [These elements emphasize his struggle to justify the killing](https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-literature-gcse-level/poetry/pre-1914-poems/man-he-killed-thomas-hardy). - **Conversational Tone**: The poem's syntax, with its straightforward and unembellished sentences, contributes to a conversational tone. [This tone makes the speaker's reflections on war feel more personal and immediate](https://poemanalysis.com/thomas-hardy/the-man-he-killed/) **Switch of Tone**: Yes, there is a subtle switch in tone throughout the poem: - [**Initial Reflection**: The poem begins with a hypothetical scenario where the speaker imagines meeting the enemy in a peaceful setting, which sets a somewhat nostalgic and wistful tone](https://english-studies.net/the-man-he-killed-by-thomas-hardy-a-critical-analysis/). - [**Rationalization**: As the speaker recounts the actual killing, the tone becomes more matter-of-fact and detached, reflecting his attempt to rationalize his actions](https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-literature-gcse-level/poetry/pre-1914-poems/man-he-killed-thomas-hardy) - [**Irony and Absurdity**: In the final stanza, the tone shifts to one of irony and contemplation as the speaker reflects on the absurdity of war, where enemies are killed without personal animosity](https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-literature-gcse-level/poetry/pre-1914-poems/man-he-killed-thomas-hardy). - **Simplifying Figurative Language and Unclear Phrases** - **Stanza 1:** - "Had he and I but met\ By some old ancient inn,\ We should have sat us down to wet\ Right many a nipperkin!" - **Simplified**: If he and I had met at an old inn, we would have sat down and had many drinks together. - **Meaning**: The speaker imagines a scenario where he and the enemy soldier could have been friends, sharing drinks in a peaceful setting. - **Stanza 2:** - "But ranged as infantry,\ And staring face to face,\ I shot at him as he at me,\ And killed him in his place." - **Simplified**: But instead, we were soldiers facing each other in battle, and I shot him just as he shot at me, and I killed him. - **Meaning**: The speaker describes the reality of war, where they were forced to fight and kill each other. - **Stanza 3:** - "I shot him dead because ---\ Because he was my foe,\ Just so: my foe of course he was;\ That's clear enough; although" - **Simplified**: I killed him because --- because he was my enemy. Yes, he was my enemy; that's clear enough, although... - **Meaning**: The speaker tries to justify the killing by stating the man was his enemy, but the hesitation and repetition show his uncertainty and discomfort. - **Stanza 4:** - "He thought he'd \'list, perhaps,\ Off-hand like --- just as I ---\ Was out of work --- had sold his traps ---\ No other reason why." - **Simplified**: He probably enlisted in the army casually, just like I did, because he was out of work and had sold his belongings. There was no other reason. - **Meaning**: The speaker reflects that both he and the enemy soldier joined the army for similar, mundane reasons, highlighting the shared humanity and the senselessness of their conflict. - **Stanza 5:** - "Yes; quaint and curious war is!\ You shoot a fellow down\ You'd treat if met where any bar is,\ Or help to half-a-crown." - **Simplified**: Yes, war is strange and odd! You kill a man you would have treated to a drink or given some money if you met him in a bar. - **Meaning**: The speaker concludes by emphasizing the absurdity of war, where men kill each other despite having no personal animosity and could have been friends in different circumstances. - **Interpretation of the Poem's Meaning and Message** - **Meaning**: "The Man He Killed" explores the senselessness and irony of war. The speaker reflects on how he killed a man who, under different circumstances, could have been a friend. The poem highlights the shared humanity between enemies and questions the justification for killing in war. - **Message**: The poem conveys a powerful anti-war message, emphasizing the absurdity and tragedy of conflict. It suggests that war forces individuals into situations where they must kill others who are not fundamentally different from themselves, underscoring the futility and human cost of such violence. - ### Subject of the Poem - The subject of "The Man He Killed" by Thomas Hardy is the senselessness and irony of war. The poem explores the personal impact of killing an enemy soldier and reflects on the absurdity of such violence. - ### Speaker of the Poem - The speaker is a soldier who recounts his experience of killing an enemy soldier during a war. [He uses a first-person point of view, making the narrative personal and direct^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/thomas-hardy/the-man-he-killed/). - ### Situation Being Described - The poem describes a battlefield encounter where the speaker kills an enemy soldier. [The speaker reflects on how, under different circumstances, they could have been friends sharing a drink at an inn^2^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/thomas-hardy/the-man-he-killed). [The poem contrasts this imagined peaceful scenario with the harsh reality of war](https://poemanalysis.com/thomas-hardy/the-man-he-killed/)[^3^](https://thinklit.co.uk/the-man-he-killed-thomas-hardy/). - ### Speaker's Feelings About the Subject - The speaker feels conflicted and reflective about the act of killing. [He tries to rationalize his actions by stating that the man was his enemy, but his hesitation and repetition reveal his discomfort and guilt](https://poemanalysis.com/thomas-hardy/the-man-he-killed/)[^2^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/thomas-hardy/the-man-he-killed). [The speaker's tone is conversational and somewhat detached, highlighting the absurdity and emotional numbness that can result from the horrors of war](https://thinklit.co.uk/the-man-he-killed-thomas-hardy/). "Portrait of a Lady" by T.S. Eliot is a poem that explores the complex relationship between a young man and an older woman. The poem is divided into three parts, each depicting different meetings between the two characters. The older woman expresses her desire for a meaningful connection, while the young man remains emotionally detached and unresponsive. The poem is known for its rich use of poetic techniques, including alliteration, enjambment, and caesura. It also features an epigraph from Christopher Marlowe's play "The Jew of Malta," which sets a tone of moral ambiguity. 1. **Alliteration**: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close to each other. [For example, "arrange" and "afternoon" in the first stanza^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). 2. **Enjambment**: The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza. [This technique helps to maintain the flow of the poem and create a conversational tone^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). 3. **Caesura**: A pause in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation. [This can create a dramatic effect or emphasize certain words or phrases^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). 4. **Anaphora**: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. [This can create a rhythmic effect and emphasize key themes^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). 5. **Imagery**: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses, helping to create a strong visual picture in the reader's mind. [Eliot uses imagery to depict the settings and emotions of the characters^2^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady). 6. **Irony**: The use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning. [The poem often uses irony to highlight the disconnect between the characters' outward appearances and their inner feelings^2^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady). 7. ### Structure and Rhythm 8. The poem is divided into three parts, each consisting of uneven stanzas. [The longest stanza stretches to twenty-three lines, while the shortest is just one line^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). [The poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme but includes various forms of rhyme, such as half, full, and internal rhymes^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). [The rhythm is predominantly iambic, with a mix of pentameters, alexandrines, and heptameters^2^](https://www.supersummary.com/portrait-of-a-lady/literary-devices/). 9. ### Title and Its Relation to the Poem 10. The title "Portrait of a Lady" suggests a detailed depiction of a woman, much like a painted portrait. It sets the expectation that the poem will explore the character and perhaps the inner life of the lady in question. [The title does not specify a time frame, setting, or action, but it hints at an intimate and possibly critical examination of the lady's personality and social interactions^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). 11. ### Speaker and Point of View 12. The poem is narrated by a young man who visits an older female acquaintance. The speaker's personality is revealed through his detached and often critical observations of the lady. [He comes across as emotionally distant and somewhat callous^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/)[^3^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady). [The lady, on the other hand, is portrayed as sensitive and longing for a deeper connection^3^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady). [The speaker addresses the lady directly in parts of the poem, but his true feelings and thoughts are often conveyed through his internal monologue^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). 13. ### Speaker's Attachment 14. The speaker seems largely detached from the events and emotions described in the poem. [His observations are often critical and lack empathy, highlighting the emotional distance between him and the lady^3^](https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady). 15. ### Subject of the Poem 16. The subject of T.S. Eliot's "Portrait of a Lady" revolves around the complex and somewhat strained relationship between a young man and an older woman. The poem delves into themes of emotional detachment, unrequited affection, and the social dynamics between the two characters. 17. ### Speaker of the Poem 18. The speaker is a young man who narrates his interactions with the older lady. His perspective is central to the poem, and through his observations and internal monologue, we gain insight into his detached and often critical view of the lady. The speaker's tone and attitude reveal much about his character and his emotional distance from the lady. ### ### Speaker's Attitude The speaker in T.S. Eliot's "Portrait of a Lady" exhibits a detached and somewhat condescending attitude towards the lady. [He is emotionally distant and often critical of her attempts to connect with him^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/)[^2^](https://www.enotes.com/topics/portrait-lady-ts-eliot/in-depth). This detachment is evident in his internal monologue, where he often mocks or dismisses her feelings and expressions. ### Language and Syntax Eliot's choice of language and syntax plays a crucial role in creating the desired tone of detachment and irony. [The use of formal and somewhat archaic language, combined with complex sentence structures, reflects the speaker's intellectual distance and emotional coldness^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). [For example, phrases like "attenuated tones of violins" and "capricious monotone" convey a sense of artificiality and insincerity](https://www.enotes.com/topics/portrait-lady-ts-eliot/in-depth). ### Tone Switch There is a noticeable switch in tone throughout the poem. Initially, the tone is more observational and detached, but as the poem progresses, it becomes more introspective and self-critical. [The speaker begins to question his own feelings and the nature of his relationship with the lady](https://www.enotes.com/topics/portrait-lady-ts-eliot/in-depth). ### Figurative Language Translation Here are some examples of figurative language from the poem, translated into simpler terms: - **"An atmosphere of Juliet's tomb"**: The room feels as gloomy and lifeless as the tomb of Juliet from Shakespeare's play. - **"Among the winding of the violins"**: The sound of violins playing in the background. - **"Inside my brain a dull tom-tom begins"**: I start to feel a persistent, dull headache. ### Interpretation of Meaning and Message The poem explores themes of emotional isolation, unrequited affection, and the superficiality of social interactions. [The speaker's detachment and the lady's longing for connection highlight the emotional desolation of modern urban life^1^](https://poemanalysis.com/t-s-eliot/portrait-of-a-lady/). [The poem ultimately suggests that genuine human connection is difficult to achieve in a world dominated by social pretenses and intellectual posturing](https://www.enotes.com/topics/portrait-lady-ts-eliot/in-depth). ### Situation Described In "Portrait of a Lady," T.S. Eliot describes a series of meetings between a young man (the speaker) and an older woman. These meetings take place in a social setting, likely in the lady's home, where they engage in conversations about art, music, and life. The lady expresses her desire for a deeper emotional connection, while the young man remains emotionally distant and unresponsive. ### Speaker's Feelings The speaker feels detached and somewhat condescending towards the lady. He views her attempts to connect with him as futile and even slightly irritating. His internal monologue reveals a sense of superiority and a lack of genuine empathy for her feelings. Despite her efforts to engage him in meaningful conversation, he remains aloof and critical, highlighting the emotional distance between them.