The religious dimensions of T.S. Eliot's early life, poetry, and thought
This thesis is a contribution to the arqument that T. S. Eliot's life, poetry, and thought form a continuous, consistent, and coherent whole. Toward this end, it explores the religious dimensions of Eliot's early readings in philosophy, anthropology, Christian mysticism, and Christian theology.The first chapter discusses Eliot's acquaintance with the work of T. E. Hulme, Irving Babbitt, and Charles Maurras-- showing sources in their political and literary conservatism for Eliot's religious conservatism. The following chapter, concentrating upon the impact of J. G. Frazer's Golden Bough demonstrates the ways in which Eliot used his early anthropological readings to articulate his spiritual concerns. The next chapter explores Henri Bergson's continuing influence upon Eliot--despite the latter's occasionally dismissive attitude toward the former--emphasizing the ways in which Bergsonism catered to Eliot's predisposition towards mysticism. Similarly, chapter four emphasizes the pervasive conceptual influence of F. H. Bradley who, as the subject of Eliot's Harvard dissertation, not surprisingly appears in the language by which Eliot later articulates his religious and poetic beliefs. Chapter five discusses Eliot's
Childs, Donald J.
Philosophy ; Religion ; Literature ; Mass media ; Performing arts
The religious dimensions of T.S. Eliot's early life, poetry, and thought. This thesis is a contribution to the arqument that T. S. Eliot's life, poetry, and thought form a continuous, consistent, and coherent whole. Toward this end, it explores the religious dimensions of Eliot's early readings in philosophy, anthropology, Christian mysticism, and Christian theology.The first chapter discusses Eliot's acquaintance with the work of T. E. Hulme, Irving Babbitt, and Charles Maurras-- showing sources in their political and literary conservatism for Eliot's religious conservatism. The following chapter, concentrating upon the impact of J. G. Frazer's Golden Bough demonstrates the ways in which Eliot used his early anthropological readings to articulate his spiritual concerns. The next chapter explores Henri Bergson's continuing influence upon Eliot--despite the latter's occasionally dismissive attitude toward the former--emphasizing the ways in which Bergsonism catered to Eliot's predisposition towards mysticism. Similarly, chapter four emphasizes the pervasive conceptual influence of F. H. Bradley who, as the subject of Eliot's Harvard dissertation, not surprisingly appears in the language by which Eliot later articulates his religious and poetic beliefs. Chapter five discusses Eliot's
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