Tradition and the Individual Talent Study Guide

Biography of T. S. Eliot

Thomas Stearns Eliot, commonly known as T. S. Eliot, was born on September 26, 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri, and became one of the most significant poets and critics of the 20th century. He studied at Harvard University, the Sorbonne in Paris, and Merton College, Oxford. Settling in England in 1914, Eliot eventually became a British citizen in 1927. He worked initially as a teacher and later in a bank before joining the publishing firm Faber and Gwyer (later Faber and Faber), where he would remain for much of his career.

Eliot's poetry, characterized by its modernist sensibilities, brought a new depth and complexity to English literature. His major works include "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" (1915), "The Waste Land" (1922), "Four Quartets" (1943), and several plays like "Murder in the Cathedral" (1935). Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. He passed away on January 4, 1965, in London.

Historical and Literary Context for "Tradition and the Individual Talent"

"Tradition and the Individual Talent" is a seminal essay by T. S. Eliot, first published in 1919 in "The Egoist" and later included in his book "The Sacred Wood" (1920). This essay is central to Eliot's critical thought and reflects the modernist movement's challenge to 19th-century Romanticism.

The early 20th century was marked by rapid changes and upheavals, including World War I, which profoundly affected the cultural and intellectual landscape. Modernist writers and artists sought to break away from traditional forms and conventions to better capture the fragmented and disorienting nature of contemporary life.

In "Tradition and the Individual Talent," Eliot argues that true originality in poetry comes from a deep engagement with the literary tradition. He posits that no poet or artist works in isolation but is part of a historical continuum. Eliot introduces the concept of the "impersonal theory of poetry," suggesting that the poet's personal emotions and experiences are less important than their ability to absorb and transform the tradition into something new. This essay was influential in promoting a critical framework that valued the interplay between individual creativity and the enduring legacy of past literature.

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