Dear Carroll,
Excuse me, I think I follow all of this but one point: what is
"Christian" about either Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson? (except, of
course, their own self labeling)
Oh yes, and it is two words: Waste Land. In this case, I do not
think it is pedantry but genuinely different implacations.
"Wasteland" is a single noun, a thing, but "Waste Land" is a noun
plus adjective in which the adjective is a form of the verb "to waste."
The two word title thus retains the active sense of the verb. I think
Eliot insisted on that form for a real reason. It is a land to which
something terrible has happened, and the happening is part of that
meaning.
Cheers,
Nancy
Date sent: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 12:34:33 -0500
Send reply to: "T. S. Eliot Discussion forum." <[log in to unmask]>
From: Carrol Cox <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: OT or OT? Possible Perspectives
To: [log in to unmask]
1a. Is X relevant to the Poem?
1b. Is the Poem relevant to X?
2. Is WW I relevant to _The Wasteland_?
3. Is _The Wasteland_ relevant to WW I?
4. Is the relevance of _The Wasteland_ to WW I relevant to _The
Wasteland_?
5. Is Christianity relevant to Four Quartets?
6. If Christianity is relevant to Four Quartets, is the negative
critique of Christianity relevant to Four Quartets?
7. To what extent can one make a simple identity between
Christianity 1942 and Christianity 2003?
7a. Is Christianity the same in a period characterized by extreme
threats to the human rights of Americans of Middle-Eastern
ancestry as it was before the non-Christian religious community in
the U.S. became a major element in u.s. life?
7b. Is it permissible that a 2003 consideration of Four Quartets
consider the poem's status in a world in whgich Jerry Falwell and
Pat Robinson are major Christian voices?
And so forth. I am attempting to suggest that the question of "What
is the relation of OT to OT in a discussion of T. S. Eliot?" (I am of
course playing off the fact that O can be either On or Off.)
Carrol
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