1. Poetry as a Craft:
* Emphasis on Form: Eliot emphasized the importance of form and structure in poetry. He believed that the formal elements, like meter and rhyme, were essential for creating a pleasing and effective poem.
* Control Over Language: He saw poetry as a highly crafted art, demanding careful control over language, rhythm, and imagery.
* Objective Correlative: He introduced the idea of the "objective correlative," which states that an emotion can be best expressed by finding a set of objects, situations, or events that can evoke that emotion in the reader.
2. Poetry as a Historical and Cultural Expression:
* Influence of Tradition: Eliot stressed the importance of tradition in poetry. He argued that poets should engage with and learn from the works of past masters, but also find ways to break new ground.
* Social Context: He believed that poetry should reflect the social and cultural context in which it is written. This includes its anxieties, values, and tensions.
* Personal and Impersonal: Eliot's famous "impersonal theory of poetry" suggests that the best poetry transcends the poet's personal emotions and expresses universal themes and experiences.
3. Poetry as a Means of Exploration:
* Jungian Archetypes: Eliot was influenced by Jungian psychology and explored the role of archetypes in poetry, believing they connect to universal human experiences.
* Exploration of the Unconscious: He saw poetry as a means of exploring the depths of the human psyche, including the unconscious mind.
* Quest for Meaning: He believed that poetry, at its best, helps us grapple with fundamental questions of existence and meaning.
Eliot's views on poetry are complex and multifaceted. He was a critical and influential figure in 20th-century literature. His ideas continue to be debated and discussed by literary scholars and poets today.
Instead of providing a definitive definition, Eliot encouraged readers to engage with poetry through its various aspects and explore its richness and complexities.