- 1. Selected Essays of T. S. Eliot by T. S. Eliot is a profound compilation that showcases the literary prowess and intellectual depth of one of the 20th century's most influential poets and critics. This anthology encapsulates Eliot's reflections on a myriad of topics including literature, culture, and philosophy, offering readers a glimpse into his thoughts on poetic form, the nature of art, and the role of the poet in society. Through essays such as 'Tradition and the Individual Talent' and 'The Perfect Critic,' Eliot articulates his belief in the interconnectedness of artistic expression and historical context, effectively challenging readers to reconsider conventional notions of literature and creativity. His incisive critiques and innovative ideas not only illuminate his own work but also engage with the broader modernist movement, making this collection essential for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of poetry and criticism in the modern era. With a commanding command of language and a keen sensitivity to the cultural currents of his time, Eliot's essays serve as a vital resource for scholars, students, and literary enthusiasts alike, inviting ongoing reflection and discourse around the transformative power of words.
In 'Tradition and the Individual Talent', what does Eliot argue is necessary for an artist to achieve significance?
A) A sense of tradition and historical consciousness
B) A focus solely on personal emotion
C) Adherence to contemporary popular trends
D) Complete originality and a break from the past
- 2. Eliot's theory of the 'objective correlative' is most famously discussed in his essay on which playwright?
A) Hamlet
B) Macbeth
C) King Lear
D) Othello
- 3. What famous phrase does Eliot use to describe the poet's mind in 'Tradition and the Individual Talent'?
A) A mirror of nature
B) A divine vessel
C) A catalyst
D) A blank slate
- 4. Eliot argues that a poet does not express personality but instead serves as a medium for what?
A) The voice of the common people
B) Feelings and emotions that are not personal
C) Autobiographical confession
D) Political ideologies of the time
- 5. Which 17th-century poet does Eliot notably rehabilitate in his essays?
A) Alexander Pope
B) John Milton
C) Geoffrey Chaucer
D) John Donne
- 6. What, according to Eliot in 'Tradition and the Individual Talent', is the continual surrender of the artist to something?
A) Something more valuable than himself
B) The political climate
C) His own fleeting emotions
D) The demands of his audience
- 7. In which essay does Eliot famously declare that 'poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion'?
A) The Metaphysical Poets
B) Tradition and the Individual Talent
C) Hamlet and His Problems
D) The Function of Criticism
- 8. According to Eliot, what dissociated in the 17th century, leading to a detriment in poetry?
A) Form and content
B) The classes of society
C) Religion and science
D) Sensibility
- 9. What does Eliot claim is the main cause of the problems in 'Hamlet'?
A) Historical inaccuracies
B) The lack of an objective correlative
C) Poor plot structure
D) Weak character development
- 10. Eliot states that the progress of an artist is a continual what?
A) Refinement of personal voice
B) Search for originality
C) Self-sacrifice
D) Accumulation of technique
- 11. Eliot argues that the emotion of art is what?
A) Always tragic
B) Impersonal
C) Overwhelmingly passionate
D) Inherently religious
- 12. Eliot's idea of 'unified sensibility' is most closely associated with which group of poets?
A) The Modernist Poets
B) The Romantic Poets
C) The Victorian Poets
D) The Metaphysical Poets
- 13. Eliot's theory of poetic creation in 'Tradition and the Individual Talent' emphasizes the importance of:
A) Biographical detail
B) Automatic writing
C) Romantic self-expression
D) Impersonality
- 14. Eliot's essay 'What is a Classic?' primarily discusses the work of which poet?
A) Dante
B) Homer
C) Virgil
D) Shakespeare
- 15. Eliot's evaluation of which playwright is central to 'Hamlet and His Problems'?
A) Marlowe
B) Shakespeare
C) Jonson
D) Webster
- 16. Eliot's concept of the 'objective correlative' is defined as a set of objects, a situation, or a chain of events that form the formula of a particular:
A) Moral
B) Emotion
C) Plot
D) Character
- 17. In 'The Function of Criticism', Eliot engages in a debate with which critic?
A) F.R. Leavis
B) I.A. Richards
C) Matthew Arnold
D) Middleton Murry
- 18. In 'Tradition and the Individual Talent', Eliot compares the poet's mind to a shred of:
A) Platinum
B) Gold
C) Silver
D) Copper
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