- 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 focus solely on personal emotion
B) A sense of tradition and historical consciousness
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) Macbeth
B) Hamlet
C) Othello
D) King Lear
- 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 catalyst
C) A blank slate
D) A divine vessel
- 4. Eliot argues that a poet does not express personality but instead serves as a medium for what?
A) Feelings and emotions that are not personal
B) Political ideologies of the time
C) The voice of the common people
D) Autobiographical confession
- 5. Which 17th-century poet does Eliot notably rehabilitate in his essays?
A) John Milton
B) Geoffrey Chaucer
C) John Donne
D) Alexander Pope
- 6. What, according to Eliot in 'Tradition and the Individual Talent', is the continual surrender of the artist to something?
A) The political climate
B) The demands of his audience
C) His own fleeting emotions
D) Something more valuable than himself
- 7. In which essay does Eliot famously declare that 'poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion'?
A) Hamlet and His Problems
B) Tradition and the Individual Talent
C) The Metaphysical Poets
D) The Function of Criticism
- 8. According to Eliot, what dissociated in the 17th century, leading to a detriment in poetry?
A) Sensibility
B) The classes of society
C) Religion and science
D) Form and content
- 9. What does Eliot claim is the main cause of the problems in 'Hamlet'?
A) Historical inaccuracies
B) Poor plot structure
C) Weak character development
D) The lack of an objective correlative
- 10. Eliot states that the progress of an artist is a continual what?
A) Self-sacrifice
B) Refinement of personal voice
C) Search for originality
D) Accumulation of technique
- 11. Eliot argues that the emotion of art is what?
A) Overwhelmingly passionate
B) Always tragic
C) Impersonal
D) Inherently religious
- 12. Eliot's idea of 'unified sensibility' is most closely associated with which group of poets?
A) The Metaphysical Poets
B) The Romantic Poets
C) The Victorian Poets
D) The Modernist 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) Virgil
B) Dante
C) Shakespeare
D) Homer
- 15. Eliot's evaluation of which playwright is central to 'Hamlet and His Problems'?
A) Shakespeare
B) Jonson
C) Marlowe
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) Character
B) Emotion
C) Plot
D) Moral
- 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) Gold
B) Silver
C) Platinum
D) Copper
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