Question

Who authored the work What is a Classic?

• A. Arnold
• B. Johnson
• C. Dryden
• D. T.S. Eliot

Answer 1

Answer:

D. T.S. Eliot

What is a Classic? by T.S. Eliot: A Critical Overview

• Origin and Context: What is a Classic? is a seminal critical essay by T.S. Eliot, originally delivered as the presidential address to the Virgil Society in London on October 16, 1944.
• Core Theme: In this essay, Eliot delves into the characteristics that define a 'classic' work of literature, using Virgil's Aeneid as the quintessential example.
• Eliot's Definition of a Classic: He proposes that a classic arises from a society and language that have reached a high degree of maturity, exhibiting qualities such as:
  • Maturity of mind
  • Maturity of manners
  • Maturity of language
  • A sense of universality and permanent significance.
• T.S. Eliot's Literary Stature: Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888–1965) was a highly influential American-born British poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary and social critic. He was a central figure in Modernist literature.
• Nobel Prize: Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 for his outstanding pioneering contributions to present-day poetry.
• Key Works of Criticism: Beyond What is a Classic?, Eliot's critical essays significantly shaped 20th-century literary criticism. Other notable works include:
  • Tradition and the Individual Talent (1919): Introduces the concept that a poet must have a sense of tradition and that originality comes from engaging with the past.
  • The Metaphysical Poets (1921)
  • The Function of Criticism (1923)
• Eliot's Poetic Masterpieces: His major poetic works include:
  • The Waste Land (1922): A landmark poem of Modernism, reflecting the disillusionment and fragmentation of post-World War I society.
  • Ash Wednesday (1930)
  • Four Quartets (1943): A series of four interconnected poems exploring time, spiritual discovery, and humanity's relationship with the divine.
  • The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915)
• Influence on Literary Theory: Eliot's critical theories, such as the 'objective correlative' and the concept of 'dissociation of sensibility,' have had a profound impact on how literature is analyzed and understood.