Aspects of asceticism in the poetry of T. S. Eliot
Abstract
This thesis examines asceticism in T. S. Eliot's poetry by recapitulating his education in mysticism and theology then applying both the texts and doctrines to Eliot's poetry.
Harvard's Houghton Library contains a record of approximately thirty books that he read
during his graduate study, and a partial list appeared in Lyndall Gordon's 1977 biography T. S. Eliot's Early Years. Yet, these works have received little critical attention, and this is the first study to examine these works significantly. Intense reading of these neglected sources composes a large portion of the research for this thesis and offers original insight into the
theme of asceticism. Eliot's poetry frequently displays broad ideals of asceticism—often in the form of discipline and purgation, but the nature of the asceticism is not consistent. In the
poems before his conversion, Eliot engages significantly with his education by portraying ascetic failures and their consequences. After Eliot's conversion, the asceticism becomes more orthodox in nature, and the doctrines encountered early in life are openly espoused.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Rights
Embargo Date: 2018-08-22
Embargo Reason: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations., Electronic copy restricted until 22nd August 2018, pending formal approval
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