The+Modern+Period

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The Modern Period was characterized by
 * a focus on the alienation of the individual
 * experimentation in writing
 * being " notable for what they leave out of their writing as for what they put in"

Response to "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock" (Moses) ||< 1. Who is the speaker of the poem and to whom is the poem addressed? || (Kristina) ||< 2. Where is the speaker? Describe the time of day, place, etc. What parts of the poem support yout answer? The speaker is in the city talking to his partner. It is in the day before the evening (LET us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky") and they are in the city "Like a patient etherized upon a table; Let us go, through certain half- deserted streets, The muttering retreats".) ||
 * ~ The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock ||~ Guiding Questions for students ||
 * < 1. lines 1-13
 * < 2. Lines 1-15

(Haemin) ||< 3. Identify two similes in the opening stanza. What do these similes suggest about what is being compared to something else? Like a patient etherised upon a table. Streets that follow like a tedious argument. These similes suggest that he thinks life is not brightened or full of gloom by the time of day it is, but what goes around in him. || (Grant) ||< 4. What room is the speaker describing? In the poem the room that the speaker is describing are the restless nights that he and the unnamed other character. The speaker talks about how they walk through half deserted streets and rent in one night cheap hotels. This could depict the "room" as the young, restless, alienated feelings that the speaker is trying to describe || (Ji Hye) ||< 5. Identify the primary metaphor in this stanza. In other words, to what does the poet indirectly liken the yellow fog? The first sentences compares fog and smoke to a cat. "Rubs it's back", "Rub it's muzzle" and "licked its tongue" are actions that cats do. || (Kyung Jae) ||< 6. What is thte primary argument of this stanza? Sum up the argument in one sentence. Prufrock worrys about facing the people in the party, and he tries to murder his natural appearance and create a new appearance to show to the people. || (Tino) ||< 7. What does the speaker mean in lines 32-33? What does this argument have to do with what is "happening" in the poem? The speaker says "And time yet for a hundred decisions and a hundred visions and revisions". During this time he is preparing himself to talk to people around, and a particular person he wants to be perfect for. When he mentions a "hundred indecisions", he means about how indecisive he will be in trying to talk to her. in the next line he talks about a "hundred visions and revisions" by this he talks about he will find the courage and the stature he wants to be when talking to the girls, but will decide to change over and over again because of this indecisiveness. So overall he means that his downfall may be, when talking to the girl, his inability to make decision. || (Angella) ||< 8. What is the speaker's emotional state at this point in the poem? What are his primary concerns? Anxiety and self-doubt make up the speaker's emotional state at this point in the poem. He repeatedly uses "Do I dare?" in this stanza. This shows he is hesitant about whether he should make certain decisions in his life. His primary concerns are what people will think of him. He doubts himself and he fears the effect his actions will have on the world. At the same time, he is concerned about the amount of time he has to act on what he wishes to do in his life. || (Hunter) || 9. Why do you think the speaker is stalling when it comes to socializing? Is this a speaker with whom you'd like to sit down and chat? Why or why not?
 * < 3. Lines 1-15
 * < 4. Lines 14-15
 * < 5. Lines 15-23
 * < 6. Lines 23-33
 * < 7. Lines 32-33
 * < 8. Lines 37-48
 * < 9. Lines 46-48

I think he is stalling because he is afraid of letting others know more about him. He probably fears rejection, or not fitting in. I would not like to talk to him because he could seem a little rude. He doesn’t have the courtesy of simply talking to me directly, but instead “hides” away. I would keep talking to him just to force him to speak because his attitude would probably annoy me. || (Christian) ||< 10. What does the speaker mean in line 51? Line 51 reads, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;" The speaker is referring to the regular occurrence of coffee (also applies to other things that people do everyday) in a person's daily schedule. The speaker is hesitant to wander out of his comfort zone, and is living his life in the same measured, and uninteresting way, just as one may be hesitant to deviate from their daily rituals. || (Hikari) ||< 11. Identify the poem's use of repetition? What effect does repetition have on the poem's meaning? The use of repetition in this poem is shown from lines 55-69, that the author uses the word "And" at the very beginning of the line many times. By using this literary device, it reflects the theme and the tone that the main speaker is hesitating, and desires to express his feelings towards the women at the party but doesn't know how. || (Libby) ||< 12. What is the speaker's tone at this point in the poem? The speaker at this point seems to be growing anxious of how people observe and judge his every action. He elaborates on his balding hair, clothing, and overall physical appearance and the possible thoughts people would have from seeing him. He also fears that the simple act of descending the stairs may "disturb the universe," and describes the effect of having people scrutinize and judge him (although he is only assuming this.) To him, everyone's "eyes...fix" him "in a formulated space." meaning that he feels as if he is trapped under people's gazes. The speaker also grows more unsure of himself, repeating the questions "And how should presume? And how should I begin?" || (Reed) ||< 13. Whom is the speaker describing? He his describing the women at the party and what finds attractive about them. || (You Young) ||< 14. Re-read line 66. What stands out about the act of digressing? He is digressing, but he is still nervous on what to say or what to do. He tries to talk to the girls, but he keeps having second thoughts which gets him sidetracked and he later on chooses to not talk to the girls. He is still thinking about the woman and wants to talk to them but he is too nervous and he doesn't in the end. When the girls come talk to him, he doesn't know what to say, so he is digressing the subject and not talking to the girls or following through. || yes. the speaker is digressing, he starts to talk about things besides that hes about to do, like going to the party. he he is talking about his head and he says "grown slightly bald" this has nothing to do with the focus of the poem. || (Kim) ||< 16. What is the primary argument of this stanza? The primary agruement of this stanza is that the guy is either lazy or is trying to find something else to avoid what he's trying to do. he is laying around and eating || (Sayaka) ||< 17. Who/What is "the eternal Footman"? "The eternal Footman" is death or the grim reaper. He will always be there, eternally, holding Prufrock's coat "on his way out." He is snickering because Prufrock will die soon. || (Jessica) ||< 18. How does this setting relate to the setting of the poem's opening stanzas? The settings in the beginning stanzas are "one-night cheap hotels" and "sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells", places that the younger generation usually go to. However in this stanza the setting is in a place where there "cups, the marmalade, the tea". This is most likely a tea shop. The change from these settings represent a difference in maturity and class, which in real life, develops as you age. || the speaker thinks that talking is important and people always have something to say, he is horrible at speaking himslf though. he keeps getting sidetracked, or going into oo much deail. || (Ricky) ||< 20. What is your analysis of line 104? In line 104, the speaker does not know what to say because he is anxious and self conscious. || (Josephine) ||< 21. What is the primary argument of this stanza? Prufrock believes himself to be "(f)ull of high sentence, but a bit obtuse." This means that Prufrock believes that he is not smart or talented enough, as compared to "Prince Hamlet" who is worthy of the spotlight he receives. Therefore, he argues that because he is not worthy to speak his own mind, he shouldn't ask the "overwhelming question." || (Michelle) ||< 22. Define "obtuse." obtuse-slow to understand or dull. || (Hazelle) ||< 23. Has the speaker finally admitted his primary concern? What effect does "growing old" have on the speaker's socializing?
 * < 10. Line 51
 * < 11. Lines 49-69
 * < 12. Lines 49-69
 * < 13. Lines 62-66
 * < 14. Line 66
 * < 15. Lines 75-86 ||< 15. Do you think the speaker himself is digressing? Identify parts of the poem to support your answer.
 * < 16. Lines 75-86
 * < 17. Line 85
 * < 18. Lines 86-98
 * < 19. Lines 90-98 ||< 19. Describe the speaker's relationship to speaking itself? Id he effective at expressing himself and/or telling a story? Why or why not?
 * < 20. Line 104
 * < 21. Lines 111-119
 * < 22. Line 117
 * < 23. Lines 120-125

The speaker has finally admitted his concern of growing older.The effect of 'growing old' has the speaker not socializing. He finds himself to be too short "i shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled" or shrinking. He is more aware of the decisions he can make, but he still feels like he is alienated "i do not think that they will sing to me". || (Jong Seok) ||< 24. Re-read line 125. Why does the speaker think this? In line 125, the speaker mentions that "[he does] not think that they will sing to [him]" (Eliot 125). The "they" in this quotation is referring to the "mermaids singing" (Eliot 124) which also represents women. Prufrock is obviously very insecure of himself and is both baffled and intimidated by women, because he feels weak and he is "grow[ing] old" (Eliot 120). Because Prufrock believes that he is not smart or talented enough as "Prince Hamlet" (Eliot 111), he alienates from being with women. Interestingly, he is very insecure about his blad spot, and as hair is a symbol of virility, Eliot suggests that Prufrock is deeply rooted in sexual anxiety. With his lack of confidence, anxieties, and insecurity, Prufrock fears being with women and therefore alienates himself from others. || (Devin) || 25. What is the speaker's final tone?
 * < 24. Line 125
 * < 25. Lines 129-131

In the last three lines of Eliot's poem, Prufrock has a tone of loneliness and hopelessness. In the beginning of the poem, the stetting starts off as a more concrete area (a city with hotels and restaurants). However, as the speaker goes on, he starts to enter into a more vague vision and setting of the ocean, revealing his insecurity and distance from the world and reality. He uses fictional figures such as mermaids and sea-girls to describe women, suggesting that he thinks that having relations and social ties with women can be nothing more than a fantasy for him. He dreams of this fantasy while lingering in the 'chambers of the sea'. However, he is often woken up by 'human voices' and reality, and 'drowns' in his fantasy with insecurity, and becomes even more distant from the will to participate and interact in the real world and society. ||