Question

Which metaphor does Eliot use to explain the role of the poet in the creative process?

• A. A sculptor carving stone
• B. A chemical catalyst in a reaction
• C. A musician composing a symphony
• D. A painter mixing colors

Answer 1

Answer:

B. A chemical catalyst in a reaction

• T.S. Eliot uses the metaphor of a catalyst in a chemical reaction to explain the role of the poet in the creative process, suggesting that the poet's mind acts as a medium to combine various emotions and experiences into a new artistic whole, without being directly affected by the reaction itself. 

• Using the analogy of a chemical reaction, Eliot explains that a “mature” poet's mind works by being a passive “receptacle” of images, phrases and feelings which are combined, under immense concentration, into a new “art emotion.”

• Key idea:

  Eliot's "impersonality theory" states that the poet should not inject their personal emotions into the poem, but instead serve as a vessel for the objective expression of feelings. 

• Catalyst analogy:

  Just like a catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed by it, the poet facilitates the creation of art by bringing together different elements without imposing their own personal perspective.