T.S. Eliot and the essay : from The sacred wood to Four quartets

G. Douglas Atkins here offers an original consideration of T. S. Eliot's essay as a form of embodied thinking. A combination of literature and philosophy, the genre of the essay holds within itself a great tension--that between truth and creative prose. And, as Atkins explains, these conflicting forces of truth and creativity exist not only within the literary format itself but also within the writers and their relationships with the genre, making essay writing a wonderfully enriching "impure art." Exploring the similarities between Eliot's prose and poetry with the art of essay writing, Atkins discovers remarkably similar patterns of Incarnational thinking that emerge in each. In so doing, he establishes for the first time the essayistic nature of the great poem Four Quartets and provides an eloquent reflection on how the essay in all its impurity functions as Incarnational art, an embodiment of truth. G. Douglas Atkins Here Offers A Consideration Of T.s. Eliot's Essay As A Form Of Embodied Thinking. A Combination Of Literature And Philosophy, The Genre Of The Essay Holds Within Itself A Great Tension--that Between Truth And Creative Prose. And, As Atkins Explains, These Conflicting Forces Of Truth And Creativity Exist Not Only Within The Literary Format Itself But Also Within The Writers And Their Relationships With The Genre, Making Essay Writing A Wonderfully Enriching Impure Art. Exploring The Similarities Between Eliot's Prose And Poetry With The Art Of Essay Writing, Atkins Discovers Similar Patterns Of Incarnational Thinking That Emerge In Each. In So Doing, He Establishes The Essayistic Nature Of The Great Poem Four Quartets And Provides A Reflection On How The Essay In All Its Impurity Functions As Incarnational Art, An Embodiment Of Truth. --from Publisher's Description. Introduction : Eliot The Essayist -- Against (pure) Transcendence : The Essay And Embodied Truth -- Eliot, Montaigne, And The Essay : The Matter Of Personality -- Turning The Essay : Tradition And The Individual Talent -- The Perfect Critic And Imperfect Critics : The Essay, Criticism, And Impurity -- Eliot's Prose Voice : The Critical Essayist As Medium -- Restoring/with A New Verse The Ancient Rhyme -- Four Quartets : The Poem As Essay -- The Impure Art Of Four Quartets : Where Literature And Philosophy Meet -- Conclusion : Faring Forward, Exploring Still : Participation Instead Of Puritan's Progress. G. Douglas Atkins. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Half Title, About the Series, Title Page, Copyright 2 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Preface 10 Introduction: Eliot the Essayist 12 1. Against (Pure) Transcendence: The Essay and Embodied Truth 22 2. Eliot, Montaigne, and the Essay: The Matter of Personality 40 3. Turning the Essay: “Tradition and the Individual Talent” 56 4. The Perfect Critic and Imperfect Critics: The Essay, Criticism, and Impurity 70 5. Eliot’s Prose Voice: The Critical Essayist as Medium 80 6. “Restoring / With a New Verse the Ancient Rhyme” 92 7. Four Quartets: The Poem as Essay 102 8. The Impure Art of Four Quartets: Where Literature and Philosophy Meet 122 Conclusion: Faring Forward, Exploring Still: Participation Instead of Puritan’s Progress 134 Notes 142 Works Cited 146 Index 150 How Eliot's prose and poetry are really exemplars of the essay. Abstract: Offers a consideration of T S Eliot's essay as a form of embodied thinking. Exploring the similarities between Eliot's prose and poetry with the art of essay writing, this title discovers similar patterns of Incarnational thinking that emerge in each. Read more...