Final answer:
A literary critique of 'Futility (ennui)' in T.S. Eliot's 'Preludes' might explore the representation of the urban environment and its contrast to pastoral ideals, and how this setting exacerbates the sense of ennui. This approach fits within ecocriticism and follows the principles of New Criticism by focusing on the imagery and thematic content of the poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is one example of literary critiques of 'Futility (ennui)' in 'Preludes' (1910-11), a poem by T.S. Eliot? A literary critique could focus on the depiction of the modern urban environment in 'Preludes' and its relation to the sense of futility or ennui. Drawing on ecocritical approaches that pay attention to the natural world in literary analysis, one could argue that the fragmented, disjointed imagery in 'Preludes' reflects the alienation from the pastoral ideal in an industrialized cityscape. This urban backdrop magnifies the futility felt by the poem's persona, as the natural rhythms and cycles seem to be lost in the mechanical and unfeeling city life.
The ecocritical lens, as outlined in works like 'The Machine in the Garden' by Leo Marx, emphasizes the conflict between the urban (the machine) and the pastoral (the garden). In this context, the absence of nature in 'Preludes' symbolizes a departure from the harmonious and idealized pastoral life, reinforcing the theme of ennui. By engaging with both the artistic elements of the text and its thematic resonance, this form of critique adheres to the principles of New Criticism, which demands a close examination of the text itself without overly relying on outside elements or paraphrase.