Is The Waste Land the greatest modern poem? TS Eliot’s poem about London after World War One is 100 years old this month. It has been read by millions across the world.
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One hundred years of TS Eliot's primal scream
Is The Waste Land the greatest modern poem? TS Eliot's poem about London after World War One is 100 years old this month. It has been read by millions across the world.
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"IMMENSE. MAGNIFICENT. TERRIBLE." These are the words poet John Peale Bishop used when he read The Waste Land by TS Eliot. This autumn, the poem is 100 years old.
The Waste Land was published in 1922. It quickly became a huge success. People around the world read the poem and quoted it.
The poem describes London after World War OneA war that included many European countries between 1914 and 1918. . It is a poem about loss and loneliness and fear.
One hundred years on, many people still love reading The Waste Land. This month, there will be public readings all over the world and a new app has even been released to help people explore the poem. Many say Eliot's words still help them with their feelings today.
But others think The Waste Land is too complicatedDifficult. . It is 434 lines long and mentions both ancientVery old. Greek and Roman poets.
Is The Waste Land the greatest modern poem?
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Yes! Eliot managed to express the emotions of millions. It is a poem that is still loved today.
No! Great poems should speak to everyone. Eliot's poem is only understood by some people, not everyone.
World War One - A war that included many European countries between 1914 and 1918.
Complicated - Difficult.
Ancient - Very old.
One hundred years of TS Eliot’s primal scream
Cry for help? In happier times, TS Eliot described The Waste Land as "just a piece of rhythmical grumbling". Glossary
World War One - A war that included many European countries between 1914 and 1918.
Complicated - Difficult.
Ancient - Very old.