Question

What must a poet do to achieve individuality, according to Eliot?

• A. Reject all traditions
• B. Isolate themselves from the literary canon
• C. Absorb and transform the tradition into something new
• D. Create completely original works

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Absorb and transform the tradition into something new

“The poet's mind is a receptacle for the past. But the poet cannot merely absorb; he must engage with the past, transform it, and give it new life.” This quote illustrates how Eliot views the relationship between tradition and individual talent. The poet actively shapes the past rather than just receiving it.