Rickard A. Parker ([log in to unmask]) wrote the following on Wed, Mar 03, 2010 at 10:17:06AM -0600:
> A knob is a hill. Most likely open (unforested) or covered
> with sheets of rock.  I'm pretty sure that New Hampshire
> has some peaks with Knob as part of the name.  With
> my corrupted system searches are a pain.
> 
> Eliot may have used the word knob instead of hill to bring
> us back to the house image (door knob).  I think though
> that he wanted the image of a sphere (as with a door
> knob) to represent the earth.

(In answer to your question in another email) - There are (K)nob Hills all over the place... but I don't see 
that Knob as hill makes any sense in the context. A draughty house *under* a hill?  Or, if it is Gerontion 
who is under the knob, how can he be under a hill while "in a house"?  Sorry if I'm missing something; I'm 
just not seeing where "hill" comes into it.  Why can't it just be a door knob?  That would tie into the 
"hand on the door," the image of "vacant shuttles (who) weave the wind" through the halls.  (I'm not saying 
it's *literally* a house, but to me the imagery needs its internal consistency.)

Regards,
George