Question

Examine the following excerpt from the poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," by T. S. Eliot and analyze it closely to determine its tone. How do the word choices, form, and poetic devices contribute to the tone? What effect do the lines create?

The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.

Answer 1

The tone of the excerpt is reflective and unpleasantly realistic. The excerpt suggests a combination of negative feelings: creeping melancholy, a sense of stagnation, a lack of health, and an absence of hope and energy. The imagery in the excerpt contributes to this effect:

-the yellow color of the fog

-the comparison of the fog to a beast that lock the surroundings

-the reference to pools in drains and soot from chimneys

Eliot lived in London, a city known for its heavy fog. Here, the fog might symbolize the speakers confusion as well.

Step-by-step explanation:

PLATO

Answer 2

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S Eliot is a poem about thoughts of an emotionally contrived man, who is searching for the meaning of love in such an uncertain world.

This poem by Eliot is a repetitive monologue. By focusing on Prufrock’s inferiority and isolation, Eliot modernizes the form of the poem. From Dante’s Inferno, the epigraph of this poem describes the ideal listeners of the Prufrock, one who will not betray the Prufrock’s present confession content. Eliot’s dramatic works are anticipated by Prufrock.

The rhyming scheme of the poem is irregular which becomes apparent when reading aloud. It may also resemble free verse. The use of refrain in the poem is the most important characteristic of this work. Eliot describes the neurotic and consciousness of the modern world by,

“women [who] come and go / Talking of Michelangelo”- Prufrock’s continual return to it.

“how should I presume?”- his repetitive questioning

“That is not it, at all.”- and his pessimistic approach

Another important characteristic of the poem is at the conclusion using fragments of the sonnet form.

“I do not think they (the mermaids) would sing to me,”- creates a contrary image on the coldness of the modern world.

Hence, the poem “The Lovesong of Alfred J Prufrock” is not just a remarkable poem for great thoughts rather has a much more influence over its readers. The tone and the way the poem has been written can be noticed going parallel with that of the life of a middle-aged man. Both the poem the life of the man undergoes some changes as it moves ahead with comic scenes, intellectual thoughts, the gloominess of the society, loneliness and searches for a better life.