Question

Why does Eliot argue against poetry as personal expression?

• A. He believes poetry should reflect universal truths rather than individual emotions.
• B. He dislikes poets who write about personal experiences.
• C. He believes poetry is a political tool.
• D. He considers personal experiences irrelevant to literature.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. He believes poetry should reflect universal truths rather than individual emotions.

T.S. Eliot argues against poetry as personal expression because he believes the poet should act as a "medium" to convey universal emotions and experiences, rather than focusing on their own individual feelings, essentially prioritizing the "impersonality" of the poem over the poet's personal identity; this idea is central to his essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent.". 

Key points of Eliot's argument:

• The poet as a catalyst:

  Eliot sees the poet as a vessel through which various emotions and experiences are combined and transformed into art, not as a source of unique, personal feelings. 

• Tradition and the collective unconscious:

  He emphasizes the importance of literary tradition, suggesting that great poetry draws from a shared cultural consciousness rather than just the poet's individual perspective. 

• Depersonalization of emotion:

  Eliot believes that the "emotion of art" is impersonal, meaning the poet should strive to create a universal emotional response rather than expressing their own specific emotions