Final answer:
The literary technique used in the excerpt from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is Symbolism, as T.S. Eliot employs symbols to indirectly represent ideas and emotions. The poem is rich in figurative language and diverges from traditional love songs by exploring modern existential concerns while retaining emotional depth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is evaluated using which literary technique? The technique used is Symbolism since the poem employs symbols to represent ideas and emotions indirectly, unlike similes and metaphors that draw direct comparisons. T.S. Eliot, the author of the poem, indeed uses a lot of figurative language throughout his work, including symbolism, to convey deeper meanings. For example, in other works, a metaphor would compare love to a rose without using 'like' or 'as' ('My love, you are a rose'), and a simile would compare them with the use of those terms ('My darling, you are like a rose'). Eliot's poem differs from a typical love song by exploring the psychological landscape of modern man rather than just romantic love, yet it may contain elements similar to a love song in its deep emotional engagement and exploration of the self in relation to others.