T. S. Eliot, The Waste Land [1922] Session 1 of 2, Please read Sections I and II

Session 1 of 2
We fly ahead 250 years to 1922 and Eliot's view of modernity after our study of Milton's depiction of the expulsion from the Garden. Is this in any way Catholic Eliot's view of paradise has come to? And yes, 1922 was the greatest year in 20-C publishing [e.g.: Ulysses, Swann, Siddhartha, Švejk, Babbitt]

Join us for an engaging discussion on T.S. Eliot's masterpiece, The Waste Land, as we delve into its themes, symbolism, and contributions to classic poetry. This event is part of our ongoing series where we dissect and appreciate renowned poetical works from the Western Canon. Whether you're a seasoned literature enthusiast or just starting to explore classic books, this meetup promises intellectual discussions and literary insights.

Having previously delved into John Milton's Paradise Lost, we continue our journey into the world of classic poetry. The session will be led by a knowledgeable moderator who will guide the conversation and encourage participants to share their interpretations and thoughts on The Waste Land. Come prepared to analyze, contemplate, and appreciate the beauty of Eliot's poetic language and its relevance in today's world. Let's read together and uncover the layers of this timeless piece of literature.

Pre-Reading for each session
Sep 22, 2024: Sections I, "Burial of the Dead," and II, "A Game of Chess,"
Oct 6, 2024: Sections III through V

Recommended edition(s):
Eliot: The Waste Land and Other Poems, Second Norton Critical Edition, edited by Michael North [2022]. ISBN: 9780393679434 Used: $18+

Eliot: The Waste Land, Centennial Facsimile Edition, edited by Valerie Eliot. New York: Liveright, 2022. ISBN: 9781324093008 New: $21+

Outside sources are welcome if they help us understand the poems.
The Waste Land SuperSummary [incls. text] See also the following AI topics (2 of 5):

1. Considering Eliot's portrayal of Western civilization in The Waste Land as a fractured and desolate landscape, what strategies could a modern poet adopt to address societal fragmentation today? How might their approach differ from Eliot's, given the current socio-cultural context?

2. Eliot's extensive use of cultural artifacts and allusions in The Waste Land serves to reveal a societal indifference towards cultural heritage. How might a contemporary artist or writer employ similar techniques to re-engage a fragmented culture with its historical richness, and what challenges would they face in doing so?

ONLINE
Please RSVP, and the Zoom link will appear.

Our 2024-25 Schedule (subject to change):
Sep-Oct 2024: Eliot, The Waste Land, Norton Critical Edition, edited by Michael North [2022]. ISBN: 9780393679434

Oct-Dec 2024: Dante, Purgatorio; Paradiso

2025 [tentative]: Norton Anthology of Poetry. Edited by Marilyn Ferguson, Tim Kendall, Mary Jo Salter
--Shorter Fifth Ed, 2005, pages: 1424. ISBN: 9780393979213, Used $6+

[Also tentative]: The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism [Third Ed. 2018] Ed. by Cain, Leitch, et al. pp. 2848. ISBN: 9780393602951
--Second Edition, 2010, pp. 2758. ISBN: 9780393932928. Used: $10+
--First Edition, 2001, pp. 2624. ISBN: 9780393974294. Used: $7+

Here are links to the other book groups I host on Meetup:
Reading Proust's In Search of Lost Time in French and English:
www.meetup.com/proust/
Reading the most influential Non-Fiction works of the last 3K yrs:
www.meetup.com/history-of-ideas/