Learning Paths » 5A Interacting
FComelli - Tradition and Individual Talent. Analysis
by - (2009-02-03)
Up to Modernist Literary Output. From V. Woolf to T.S.Eliot to J. Joyce
In this short essay I'm going to analyse the text Tradition and Individual Talent written by T.S.Eliot.
Eliot starts its analysis about literary production considering it in the context of the whole culture.
Moreover Eliot explains that he is not going to analyze adolescent works where there is a sort of "Mannerism", with a strict adherence to the models proposed by tradition.
Eliot believes that only when an artist grows old he can innovate, because he has reached the awareness of the historical sense by "great labour".
As a matter of fact any literary work should be evaluated in relation to the historical sense the artist is able to convey. Any very innovative work hasn't got his meaning alone, it needs references for contrast and comparison to the other works of artists and poets.
Moreover the references between the past and the present create a global order, so that the work may become timeless.
Moreover a new traditional work of art modifies the whole tradition as if it were a complete system. In Eliot's opinion the past is altered by the perspective of the present. This leaves the greatest artist a role of great responsibilities providing the world with the key to understand the cultural system.
Eliot analyzes the role of art in a very detailed way. He doesn't seem to be universal when he speaks about order and the coherence of the system of culture, at least he doesn't seem timeless.
in the last part of the essay Eliot reminds us the important role of the intellectuals against the partial interpretations of the past that someone might build up. As a matter of fact intellectuals are the ones who have the power to address common people in their reflections.
Eliot starts its analysis about literary production considering it in the context of the whole culture.
Moreover Eliot explains that he is not going to analyze adolescent works where there is a sort of "Mannerism", with a strict adherence to the models proposed by tradition.
Eliot believes that only when an artist grows old he can innovate, because he has reached the awareness of the historical sense by "great labour".
As a matter of fact any literary work should be evaluated in relation to the historical sense the artist is able to convey. Any very innovative work hasn't got his meaning alone, it needs references for contrast and comparison to the other works of artists and poets.
Moreover the references between the past and the present create a global order, so that the work may become timeless.
Moreover a new traditional work of art modifies the whole tradition as if it were a complete system. In Eliot's opinion the past is altered by the perspective of the present. This leaves the greatest artist a role of great responsibilities providing the world with the key to understand the cultural system.
Eliot analyzes the role of art in a very detailed way. He doesn't seem to be universal when he speaks about order and the coherence of the system of culture, at least he doesn't seem timeless.
in the last part of the essay Eliot reminds us the important role of the intellectuals against the partial interpretations of the past that someone might build up. As a matter of fact intellectuals are the ones who have the power to address common people in their reflections.