Perfecting Poetry: T.S. Eliot - The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock - Lines 1-14

This video is part of a series analyzing TS Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.' It explores the poem's ironic title, themes of isolation, and historical context, including its epigraph from Dante's 'Inferno.' The lesson delves into the poem's opening lines, highlighting Eliot's use of juxtaposition and imagery. It also discusses modernity's impact on city life and Eliot's inspiration from Charles Baudelaire, particularly the concept of the flâneur. The video concludes with Prufrock's overwhelming question and a preview of the next lesson.

What is ironic about the title 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'?

• It is a romantic ballad.

• It is a traditional love song.

• It is a humorous poem.

• It depicts a modern man's loneliness.

What is the source of the epigraph in 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'?

• Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'

• Dante's 'Inferno'

• Virgil's 'Aeneid'

• Homer's 'Odyssey'

What does the epigraph from Dante's 'Inferno' suggest about Prufrock's state of mind?

• He feels liberated.

• He is joyful.

• He is indifferent.

• He feels trapped and humiliated.

How does TS Eliot use juxtaposition in the opening lines of the poem?

• By describing a peaceful landscape

• By highlighting a romantic relationship

• By comparing Prufrock to a hero

• By contrasting movement and stasis

What does the simile 'like a patient etherized upon a table' convey in the poem?

• A sense of freedom

• A sense of joy

• A sense of paralysis

• A sense of excitement

What does the term 'flâneur' refer to in the context of the poem?

• A modern urban spectator

• A traditional poet

• A romantic lover

• A historical figure

How does the concept of modernity influence the setting of the poem?

• It creates a peaceful environment.

• It leads to a rural setting.

• It results in a hostile cityscape.

• It promotes traditional values.

What literary device does Eliot use to create suspense about the overwhelming question?

• Ellipses

• Hyperbole

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

What is the significance of the women discussing Michelangelo in the poem?

• They represent Prufrock's friends.

• They symbolize Prufrock's artistic ambitions.

• They are Prufrock's romantic interests.

• They highlight Prufrock's feelings of inadequacy.

What does Prufrock's hesitation to ask the overwhelming question reveal about him?

• His indifference

• His confidence

• His anxiety

• His excitement