Examine T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" in detail.
Or Summarise the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by explaining style in the poem.
Ans. Eliot began writing "Prufrock" in February 1910, and it was first published in the June 1915 issue of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse at the instigation of Ezra Pound (1885-1972). It was later printed as part of a twelve-poem pamphlet (or chapbook) titled Prufrock and Other Observations in 1917. At the time of its publication, Prufrock was considered outlandish, but is now seen as heralding a paradigmatic cultural shift from late-19th century Romantic verse and Georgian lyrics to Modernism. The poem is regarded as the beginning of Eliot's career as an influential poet. Analysis The title of the poem is Eliot's first hint that this is not a traditional love poem at all. "J. Alfred Prufrock" is a farcical name and Eliot wanted the subliminal connotation of a "prude" in a "frock". (The original title was "Prufrock Among the Women"). Eliot took the last name of the title character from a sign advertising the William Prufrock furniture company, a business in Eliot's hometown, St. Louis, while he was growing up. The initial J. and name Alfred are inventions, probably mimicking the way Eliot occasionally signed his name as a young adult: T. Stearns Eliot.
The words "Love Song" seem apt, for one of the definitions of love song is narrativė poem. And, of course, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is a narrative, presenting a moment in the life of the title character. It is also a poem. In addition, the work has characteristics of most love songs, such as repetition (or refrain), rhyme and rhythm. It also focuses on the womanly love that eludes Prufrock. There is a refrain in the poem: "In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo"
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