T. S. Eliot 2521, “Love Song” 2524, The Waste Land 2529; W. H. Auden 2677, “Musee des
Beaux Arts” 2685, “In Memory of W.B. Yeats” 2685; Dylan Thomas 2697, “Poem in
October” 2700, “Do Not Go Gentle” 2703; Doris Lessing 2758, “To Room Nineteen” 2759,
Ted Hughes 2808, “Daffodils” 2813, Seamus Heaney 2951, “Digging” 2953; Complete
discussion. Review for test. Submit essay. All 20th century Powerpoint presentations are
due by April 22.
1. Has Prufrock done anything worthwhile with his life? What is he concerned about relating to growing older?
What question does he want to ask but is afraid to?
2. Describe the Waste Land? What does the search for water symbolize?
3. What comments does Auden make about art in “Muse des Beaux Arts”? Its relation to life?
4. How does the time of year in “In Memory of W. B. Yeats” suit the subject matter? According to Auden, what
mark, if any, did Yeats live on Ireland? On the world?
5. What is the tone in “Poem in October”? How does Thomas view nature?
6. “Do Not Go Gentle” is a well–known villanelle by Thomas. Does the verse form fit the subject? What is the
theme of the poem?
7. How is “To Room Nineteen” similar to Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”? Why does the wife feel the need to
escape? What comment might the ending make about life in the 20th Century?
8. What might the flowers symbolize in “Daffodils”? Does the speaker have regrets?
9. In “Digging,” what connection does Heaney make between his father and grandfather and himself? How is
writing poetry like digging?
1. No, I don’t think that Prufrock has done anything worthwhile with his life. I think he is concerned
about not taking a chance to possibly talk to a certain girl and fears growing old alone. I think
the question he wants to ask is to ask a girl out on a date.
2.
3. Auden makes comments about how people in life only see what they want to and will ignore