Amicus Dei of [FoG]
New Member
In English, we're being required to read some poems... The first two we've done so far are by T.S. Eliot. "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "Gerontion."
Now let me say first that I don't really like poetry. If you want to say something, just say it.
But back to the point... I'm working on "Gerontion" right now.
When I first started reading, I realized about 1/3 of the way through that I had started to completely ignore it and just glance at the words as if reading. Obviously I had no idea what was going on.
Now the thing that bothers me about poetry is this:
I think I understand it, but I can and will NEVER be sure. So I don't know whether I know what the author was trying to say.
I finished the thing (only having to read again the part 1/3 through), and managed to come up with some ideas... Honestly, I think they're either right on or farfetched.
Either this guy is imagining at the end of his life the beginning of the eternal life promised by Christ, or I don't have any idea what's going on.
It seems that the old man is questioning whether or not he's going to receive that promise, and perhaps is getting worried by the end and attempting to plead with God because he realizes that he's lost.
Also, I have this inkling that the title is a combination of titles of books from the Bible, such as GEnesis, chRONicles, and revelaTION.
Of course, the problem is that I'm supposed to write a commentary on this and speculate stuff about it, but somehow I'm supposed to avoid inaccurate information, in spite of the obvious fact that it's impossible for me to determine what T.S. Eliot is saying.
Now let me say first that I don't really like poetry. If you want to say something, just say it.
But back to the point... I'm working on "Gerontion" right now.
When I first started reading, I realized about 1/3 of the way through that I had started to completely ignore it and just glance at the words as if reading. Obviously I had no idea what was going on.
Now the thing that bothers me about poetry is this:
I think I understand it, but I can and will NEVER be sure. So I don't know whether I know what the author was trying to say.
I finished the thing (only having to read again the part 1/3 through), and managed to come up with some ideas... Honestly, I think they're either right on or farfetched.
Either this guy is imagining at the end of his life the beginning of the eternal life promised by Christ, or I don't have any idea what's going on.
It seems that the old man is questioning whether or not he's going to receive that promise, and perhaps is getting worried by the end and attempting to plead with God because he realizes that he's lost.
Also, I have this inkling that the title is a combination of titles of books from the Bible, such as GEnesis, chRONicles, and revelaTION.
Of course, the problem is that I'm supposed to write a commentary on this and speculate stuff about it, but somehow I'm supposed to avoid inaccurate information, in spite of the obvious fact that it's impossible for me to determine what T.S. Eliot is saying.