how Eliot obtains his findings.
Modern Poetry Is Complex and New: Eliot explains that modern poetry is different. Modern poets want to write in new ways. They do not follow only old traditions. They create poetry that feels fresh and unique. Their language is often complex and powerful. Eliot understands this difficulty in modern poetry. He says,
“Poets in our civilization, as it exists at present, must be difficult.”
This quote explains why their work is hard. Modern poets want to show deep meanings and strong feelings. Their poetry mixes many ideas together. They want readers to think hard about the lines.
The Group Also Broke Old Styles: Eliot writes about metaphysical poets, like Donne. These poets also did not follow only old forms. Their poems join many ideas and images. They mix thoughts and feelings deeply. Metaphysical poets use new and surprising methods. Eliot admires their way of writing. He explains as,
"Telescoping of images and multiplied associations."
This quote illustrates how they combine multiple things at once. They use clever images and thoughts in each poem. Their style was bold and new for their time. Readers must work hard to enjoy these poems fully.
The Unity of Thought and Feeling: A special similarity Eliot finds is the unity of mind and heart. Both groups of poets do not separate thinking from feeling in poetry. They create poems that express full experiences. Eliot writes,
"Fidelity to thought and feeling."
This quote means they stay true to both parts. Their poetry does not forget emotion or lose strong ideas. Both groups wanted poetry that conveys the full range of thought and emotion. This unity makes their poems powerful and real. It is important for real poetry.
Combining Many Experiences: Eliot sees that both types of poets combine different life experiences in their poetry. They do not use one simple theme or emotion. Their poems gather many pieces of life by mixing them together. Eliot says,
"When a poet's mind is perfectly equipped for its work, it is constantly amalgamating disparate experience."
This quote shows poets joining many life events into one poem. Both metaphysical and modern poets fill their poems with ideas from all parts of life. This makes their poetry wide, colorful, and alive.
Difficulty and Unity: Eliot finds that both types of poets are sometimes hard to understand. They use difficult language and far-fetched ideas. However, this difficulty is a good thing. It forces readers to feel and think together. Eliot explains that this difficulty and unity of experience link modern and metaphysical poetry. He says their poems are not simple but rewarding. Both need careful reading. Their style makes them important in English literature.
To sum up, Eliot sees real similarities between modern and metaphysical poets. Both break old rules and mix new ideas. They join thought and feeling in their work. Eliot's remarks clearly show the link. He believes both groups enrich poetry. Their style continues to inspire poets and students today.
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