Poetry Allusions of W. B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot
There are many strategies in which a writer can convey his message to his readers. One is allusion, a literary device that lets the readers have a mental image of what the writer is trying to express in his article. The dictionary defines it as an “indirect reference or citation” to a person, place or something that is presumed to be known already by the reader. Others classify it as an indirect mention of something that the writer may intentionally or unintentionally do so. It is up to the reader to see and grasp the necessary connection. Autobiography of the Authors
Perhaps two of the most known writers who use allusion are William Butler Yeats and Thomas Stearns Eliot. William Butler Yeats, a renowned Irish poet and dramatist started his career as early as seventeen. He was also a painter but chose to focus more on writing. The Isle of Statues, the Wandering of Oisin, and The Wind among the Reeds were among his famous works, to name a few. Critic Michael Valdez Moses described his works as “those of radical nationalist, classical liberal, reactionary conservative, and millenarian nihilist” (Inc Wikimedia Foundation). T. S. Eliot, born in St.
Louis, Missouri in the year 1888 came from an elite family having him enrolled in one of the most prestigious schools in the community – Harvard. He also had the resembling enthusiasm for travelling, which is taken to fact that his works catered different settings and race. He also had the passion for theater making him a director in an English firm in the year 1965 and had been merited by King George VI as a form of appreciation for his fine works. His collection of poems exerted profound influences on his contemporaries in the arts which also staged on international readers as well.
Analysis on Allusion The essence of allusion is its ability on making readers read and at the same time comprehends what they are reading. This literary device which is used in prose and poetry help in visualizing a mental picture by playing with words alluded. The fragile fact in the usage of such is the level of expectation evoked by the allusion. The style is like “counting chickens with eggs”. In general, the utilization of allusions by a novelist shows an anticipation that the bookworm is proverbial with the allusion made, otherwise the effect is nowhere to be found in the tentacles of the purpose.
On William Butler Yeats Works Yeats’ breathtaking ranges in poetry encompasses the entire arc of his career from writing pieces of myths and legends and lingering passionate meditations on demands set forth by the contemporary society for purposes which indulges the art of love, heroism, nature and a whole sense of unpredictable somber and angry poems which stages the flames of war and a whole lot more of uprising circumstances. His so-called “religious” pieces gave not only a slight impact on readers, but it made people internalize each and every line of his poems.
It was believed that the purpose of his works is to send subliminal messages to the society. He is a man armed with romanticism which is considered moribund in modern literature. His skill of captivating hearts of readers with his ability to revive legends by placing it into lyrics gave him a towering height of success and respect which is up to date appreciated by literature fanatics. On T. S. Eliot’s Works Unlike Yeats who received mostly admiration on his works, Eliot on the other hand had a lot of criticisms regarding his works.
Some said his works were “not being poetry at all” and that they were just replica of other authors’ creations (Inc. Wikimedia Foundation). Nevertheless, these were not barriers for Eliot to be awarded with a Nobel Prize for Literature, just like Yeats, whom he actually influenced. Among his greatest works were The Waste Land, Ash Wednesday, and Four Quartet which gave him a breakthrough in the limelight and a tank of deliberate criticisms at that. Given the fact that his works were often questioned, he remained steadfast upon his works and continued writing epics, tragedies, culture and religion.
His enthusiasm on “Metaphysics”, which triggered the rationality of the reading public were ironically given ample respect. He was described as a writer dancing shallow waters, and enables one to judge his works either positively or negatively. It was between: love him, or hate him. Conclusion A writer’s style may differ in form and style. In the amorous field of literature, it is expected that readers may either internalize it as rather discouraging, inspirational or motivational.
In the case of Eliot and Yeats, it is then taken to assumption that the style of readers in expressing their ideas or desires in the field of writing is influenced by three factors: environment, family and experiences. The contradictory opinions of readers are taken only for the purpose of sharing and reference. The dominance of allusions in both the authors’ masterpieces perhaps is a way of establishing an exotic sense of trademark. The targets of their collection of literary works are the advanced booklovers, where their “allusions are counted with argumentative but sentimental appreciation”.
