A discussion of T.S. Eliot's "Gerontion" from the online course Classics of American Literature: T.S. Eliot, taught by Duke University English Professor Victor Strandberg.
I've already watched the first 9 videos, and I can say this series is one of the best experiences I've had with literature. Thank you for this amazing content.
The search for meaning: 1. Heroic adventure 3:55 2. Salvation 10:45 3. The march of History 20:23 contrived corridors (Versailles) Still alludes to religion, 4. Cultivating one's "garden" (Voltaire) Still shadows of Christ the tiger, the wrath bearing tree. 24:00 Usually through Marriage/& relationships 25:00 Grover Smith: discussing a bad marriage, borne from rashness I have lost my passion: pointless 26:50 Adultery and Poverty 28:40 RECAP 29:33 The future of an old Man 30:10 Pondering death 31:30 Examples And it ends with a recurve
The search for meaning: Gerontion is old. It's getting hard for him to find meaning. His youth and life drifts away like a dream would. 1. Heroic adventure 3:55 The boy telling a story goes against the expected picture of an old man telling a young boy his past feats. Reflecting Eliot's life, who was barred from serving in WW1, there are no feats to tell and no stories of heroism. Gerontion, whose life is so made up of nothing big, lives in a 'decayed house', in a life of meaninglessness. Based on other works of Eliot, people start to look to trivial things to spell out their existence (keeps the kitchen, makes tea) 2. Salvation While religious faith has been made available to almost all peoples, Gerontion is a skeptic. Given the new inventions of the 20th century, it is no surprise for him to expel the idea that they are signs or wonders of God. "The intellectual life of the time makes it not credible". Despite his not believing in Christian faith, there is still a sense of judgement from Christ, now portrayed as a tiger rather than His gentle image of a lamb. 3. March of History People are roped into wars and political division started by idealists who propose radical principles, each one promising peace and a better world. But history shows that it's all a lie as all of these principles eventually crumble and lead the world into chaos. Could the allusion to salvation simply be a comparison to how the idealists offer salvation too, but fail to do so? 4. Cultivating one's private garden The world's a mess but you can make your own little bubble meaningful. Human relationships seem to be sown into this, namely marriage. In real life, Eliot's wife cheated on him with his teacher less than a year into the marriage. 5. Future Gerontion is getting old. His senses are decaying; he's getting delusional. He ponders on death (a state of being reduced to fractured atoms) and sees something hopeful in it: based on the romantic imagery and peaceful conveyance of the Pacific Ocean.
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A comprehensive survey of Eliot's notoriously allusive poem. The poem Prof Victor mentions among others is A Rhapsody on a Windy Night and the epigraph to the poem under study is a quote from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Illuminating lecture without any aide memoire in hand or on the screen. Re-listenable.
The opening lines are torn from Benson's FitzGerald's biography (who was the chief translator of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) and Fitz had a boy who used to go to read for him because he was "old and blind"! and most of the imagery in this poem, as much as in The Waste Land, is from either FitzGerald or Khayyam (most of the time, both, as many might don't know that Eliot was seriously possessed by Khayyam.
Very enlightening commentary. Although I will say that the aside about his “anti-semetism” was completely unnecessary. It’s far more interesting to hear about the poem itself rather than modern political ideology.
I wish we could have more literature courses. You are an excellent professor.
I've already watched the first 9 videos, and I can say this series is one of the best experiences I've had with literature. Thank you for this amazing content.
Greeting and thank you to Duke Learning Innovation and to Professor Victor Strandberg for this enriching course on The Works of T.S. Eliot.
The search for meaning:
1. Heroic adventure
3:55
2. Salvation 10:45
3. The march of History
20:23 contrived corridors (Versailles)
Still alludes to religion,
4. Cultivating one's "garden"
(Voltaire)
Still shadows of Christ the tiger, the wrath bearing tree.
24:00
Usually through Marriage/& relationships
25:00 Grover Smith: discussing a bad marriage, borne from rashness
I have lost my passion: pointless 26:50
Adultery and Poverty
28:40
RECAP
29:33
The future of an old Man
30:10
Pondering death
31:30
Examples
And it ends with a recurve
The search for meaning:
Gerontion is old. It's getting hard for him to find meaning. His youth and life drifts away like a dream would.
1. Heroic adventure 3:55
The boy telling a story goes against the expected picture of an old man telling a young boy his past feats. Reflecting Eliot's life, who was barred from serving in WW1, there are no feats to tell and no stories of heroism. Gerontion, whose life is so made up of nothing big, lives in a 'decayed house', in a life of meaninglessness. Based on other works of Eliot, people start to look to trivial things to spell out their existence (keeps the kitchen, makes tea)
2. Salvation
While religious faith has been made available to almost all peoples, Gerontion is a skeptic. Given the new inventions of the 20th century, it is no surprise for him to expel the idea that they are signs or wonders of God. "The intellectual life of the time makes it not credible". Despite his not believing in Christian faith, there is still a sense of judgement from Christ, now portrayed as a tiger rather than His gentle image of a lamb.
3. March of History
People are roped into wars and political division started by idealists who propose radical principles, each one promising peace and a better world. But history shows that it's all a lie as all of these principles eventually crumble and lead the world into chaos.
Could the allusion to salvation simply be a comparison to how the idealists offer salvation too, but fail to do so?
4. Cultivating one's private garden
The world's a mess but you can make your own little bubble meaningful. Human relationships seem to be sown into this, namely marriage. In real life, Eliot's wife cheated on him with his teacher less than a year into the marriage.
5. Future
Gerontion is getting old. His senses are decaying; he's getting delusional. He ponders on death (a state of being reduced to fractured atoms) and sees something hopeful in it: based on the romantic imagery and peaceful conveyance of the Pacific Ocean.
Your videos are extremely helpful. Thanks for everything.
I have enjoyed a number of your informative and enlightening videos. Many thanks, so enjoyable.
These are very enlightening! :D
The Epigraph is from Measure to Measure.
This helped me so much understanding Gerontion. Thank you 😊
clearly explained..
Great video! I was struggling with this one.
Thank you for your sensitive reading of this poem. I am going to recommend your lecture to my students.
I know im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account??
I somehow lost my account password. I would appreciate any tips you can give me.
A comprehensive survey of Eliot's notoriously allusive poem. The poem Prof Victor mentions among others is A Rhapsody on a Windy Night and the epigraph to the poem under study is a quote from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Illuminating lecture without any aide memoire in hand or on the screen. Re-listenable.
Thanks. Very clearly explained
thanks from Bangladesh 🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩
The opening lines are torn from Benson's FitzGerald's biography (who was the chief translator of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) and Fitz had a boy who used to go to read for him because he was "old and blind"! and most of the imagery in this poem, as much as in The Waste Land, is from either FitzGerald or Khayyam (most of the time, both, as many might don't know that Eliot was seriously possessed by Khayyam.
Thank you,Dr Victor.Really great
Very enlightening commentary. Although I will say that the aside about his “anti-semetism” was completely unnecessary. It’s far more interesting to hear about the poem itself rather than modern political ideology.