T. S. Eliot’s influence upon Modern Literary Criticism: Defining “Tradition and the Individual Talent”

"Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality."-

T. S. Eliot (1888 - 1965)

"Tradition and the Individual Talent"

“Tradition and the Individual Talent”: Redefining Poetic Creation: T.S. Eliot's Impact on Modern Literary Criticism

 The Poet's Evolution: T.S. Eliot's Redefinition of Creativity in "Tradition and the Individual Talent"

T.S. Eliot, one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century, left an indelible mark on modern literary criticism with his groundbreaking essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent." Published in 1919, this influential piece revolutionized the way we perceive and evaluate poetry, challenging traditional notions of the poet as a solitary genius driven solely by personal inspiration. Through his essay, Eliot introduced the concept of "Tradition" and emphasized the significance of the collective cultural heritage in shaping poetic creation.

"Tradition and the Individual Talent" presents a radical departure from the romantic idea of the poet as an autonomous and original creator. Eliot proposes that poetry is not an isolated act of self-expression but a continuous dialogue with the past. He argues that the poet's work is informed by the entire history of literature, and that great poets are those who successfully engage with and build upon the works of their predecessors.

The Interdependence of Present and Past: T.S. Eliot's Notion of Tradition in Literary Criticism

T. S. Eliot questions the habit of praising a poet especially for those elements in his work which are most ‘individual’, and differentiate him from others. He argues that the best, even the most individual parts of a poet’s work may be those most alive with the influence of his poetic ancestors. No poet or artist is significant in isolation. The whole of past literature will be ‘in the bones’ of the poet, with the true historic sense which recognizes the presence as well as the ‘pastness’ of the past. Eliot’s sense of the interdependence of present and the past is something which he believed the poet must cultivate. Tradition can be obtained only by those who have a historical sense. This sense of tradition implies recognition of the continuity of literature, a critical judgment as to which writers of the past continue to be significant in the present, and a knowledge of these writers obtained through painstaking effort. A writer with the sense of tradition is fully conscious of his own generation, of his place in the present but he is also acutely conscious of his relationship with the writers of the past. In short, tradition represents the accumulated wisdom of and experience of the ages and so its knowledge is essential for really great and noble achievements.
                                                       

The relationship between the past and the present is not one sided; it is a reciprocal relationship. The past directs the present, and is itself modified and altered by the present. When a new work of art is created, if it is really new and original, the whole literary tradition is modified, though ever so slightly.

Meaning of Eliot’s remark that a poet is concerned not only with the pastness of the past but with its presence

T. S. Eliot (1888 - 1965)

U.S.-born British poet and playwright.

The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence; the historical sense compels a man to write not merely with his own generation in his bones, but with a feeling that the whole of the literature of Europe from Homer and within it the whole of the literature of his own country has a simultaneous existence and composes a simultaneous order. This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional. And it is at the same time what makes a writer most acutely conscious of his place in time, of his contemporaneity.

The work of a poet in the present must be compared and contrasted with the works of the past, but this judgment is not to determine good or bad. The comparison is made for the purposes of analysis and for forming a better understanding of the new. Moreover this comparison is reciprocal; the past helps to understand the present and the present throws light on the past. It is by comparison alone that we can sift the traditional from individual elements in a given work of art.

Navigating Tradition: Critical Engagement and the Poet's Historical Sense

The sense of tradition does not mean that the poet should try to know the past as a whole, without discrimination. The past must be critically examined and only the significant should be acquired. Neither should a poet be content merely to know the ages and poets he likes. To know the tradition, the poet must judge critically what the main trends are and what are not. The poet must possess the critical gift in ample measure and must understand that the great works of art never lose their significance; there may be refinement but no development.

Central to Eliot's thesis is the notion that the individual talent of the poet is intertwined with the broader tradition to which they belong. He asserts that the poet's "historical sense," their awareness of literary heritage, is crucial for creating meaningful and enduring poetry. The poet must not only be well-versed in the works of past writers, but also actively contribute to the ongoing literary conversation by adding their unique perspective and insights.

Transcending Subjectivity: Eliot's Call for Depersonalization in Poetry

Eliot challenges the romantic belief that poetry is primarily an expression of personal emotions and experiences. Instead, he advocates for a more objective and impersonal approach to poetry, one that transcends the poet's individual feelings and focuses on expressing universal truths. According to Eliot, the poet must detach themselves from their own emotions and achieve a state of depersonalization, allowing the voice of tradition to speak through their work.

Eliot's Impact on Literary Analysis: Shifting Focus to the Text and Formalism

Furthermore, Eliot's essay revolutionized the way we analyze and interpret poetry. He called for a shift in critical focus from the poet's biographical context to the text itself. Eliot argued that the poet's personal intentions and experiences should not overshadow the objective analysis of the poem's form, structure, and language. This perspective laid the foundation for the development of New Criticism, a prominent critical movement of the mid-20th century, which emphasized close reading and formal analysis of the text.

Eliot's ideas in "Tradition and the Individual Talent" had a profound impact on subsequent generations of poets and critics. His call for the poet's engagement with tradition and the rejection of self-indulgent modes of expression resonated throughout the literary world. Poets, inspired by Eliot's essay, sought to create works that went beyond the subjective and embraced a more timeless and universal quality.

Moreover, Eliot's emphasis on the importance of tradition and objective analysis influenced the field of literary criticism itself. Critics, such as Cleanth Brooks and John Crowe Ransom, aligned with Eliot's views and championed a more rigorous and formalistic approach to the study of literature. They advocated for the separation of the poet's personal life from the analysis of their work, focusing on the intrinsic qualities of the text.

Conclusion

In conclusion, T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent" exerted a profound influence on modern literary criticism. By redefining the role of the poet within the context of tradition and advocating for an impersonal approach to poetry, Eliot challenged the romantic notion of the poet as an autonomous genius. His ideas continue to shape our understanding and evaluation of poetry, emphasizing the interplay between the individual talent and the collective heritage. Eliot's work remains a cornerstone in the study of literature, serving as a guiding light for subsequent generations of poets and critics alike

In brief the sense of tradition means:

a)recognition of the continuity of literature, b) critical judgment as to which writers of the past continue to be significant in the present, c) knowledge of these writers through painstaking effort. Tradition represents the accumulated wisdom and experience of ages and so its knowledge is essential for great and noble achievements.

T. S. Eliot’s influence upon Modern Literary Criticism:The Function of Criticism
T. S. Eliot’s influence upon Modern Literary Criticism: Unification of Sensibility and Dissociation of Sensibility

 Ardhendu De

References

After strange gods : a primer of modern heresy : Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/afterstrangegods0000elio

T. S. Eliot: a collection of criticism : Wagner-Martin, Linda, comp : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/tseliotcollectio0000wagn