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"The Waste Land" by T.S.Eliot (classroom activity)

This blog is a part of my classroom activity.
Here is the link of my classroom activity .
 Given by Dr. Dilip barad sir 





1)  What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzsche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

  • Nietzsche's view point about superhuman and Eliot's theory about looking backward in past both are right on their own. Both are extremely different from each other. From my point of view there can not be any comparison take place between them because they both are different in their perspectives.
  • Nietzsche's view about "ubermensch" or superhuman is quite new and right on some point. That is good if one see possibilities of his own self and that helps him to grow so this idea is worth thinking. 
  • On the other side Eliot says about looking backward in past. He took past mythologies in The Wasteland. Looking back and move forward in future with the help of past that is in one way helpful because that mythologies helps one not to repeat that mistakes in future. 
  • Nietzsche's theory is only based on individual's growing but Eliot's one is mass growing theory. We can take Buddhism's example for that. 
2) Prior to the speech, Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:




What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? Or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?
  •  It is true that free vent to the repressed ‘primitive instincts’ lead us to happy and satisfied life’ but this depends on how much space you give to the instincts. If you press a spring and then if you just leave it, it will fall anywhere. This ‘Primitive instincts’ may bring chaos in the society.

         “Doing as one likes may bring chaos in the society”

  • When there is Chaos in the culture, the solution can also be found in the preservation of culture.
  • Thus, T.S.Eliot and Freud are correct in their perspective, but anything in excessive amount is always dangerous.. 


3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?)

  • In "The Wasteland" their are some lines which refers to Indian thoughts. Like, 

"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"

  • There is reference of Ganga which is Indian holly river and also himavant which means perhaps Himalaya. And also used Indian mythology here. 

DA

Datta: what have we given?

My friend, blood shaking my heart

The awful daring of a moment’s surrender

Which an age of prudence can never retract

By this, and this only, we have existed

Which is not to be found in our obituaries

Or in memories draped by the beneficent spider

Or under seals broken by the lean solicitor

In our empty rooms

DA

Dayadhvam: I have heard the key

Turn in the door once and turn once only

We think of the key, each in his prison

Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison

Only at nightfall, aethereal rumours

Revive for a moment a broken Coriolanus

DA

Damyata: The boat responded

Gaily, to the hand expert with sail and oar

The sea was calm, your heart would have responded

Gaily, when invited, beating obedient

To controlling hands

 

                                    I sat upon the shore

Fishing, with the arid plain behind me

Shall I at least set my lands in order?

London Bridge is falling down falling down falling down

Poi s’ascose nel foco che gli affina

Quando fiam uti chelidon—O swallow swallow

Le Prince d’Aquitaine à la tour abolie

These fragments I have shored against my ruins

Why then Ile fit you. Hieronymo’s mad againe.

Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata.

                  Shantih     shantih     shantih

These lines are taken from "Brihadaaranyak Upanishad" so that is Indian reference is there. And last line of poem is also have Indian reference there, "Shantih shantih shantih".

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