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'The Waste Land' Reviewed (1923)

theguardian.com

11–15 of 15 posts

Re: 'The Waste Land' Reviewed (1923)

#11
It helps immensely to hear poetry read, particularly if it's read well. I didn't understand how important the sound is until I started listening - it changed the way I view poetry. If I can't find a recording of a poem, I'll even try reciting it myself.

Years ago I started sticking a cassette (!) of Eliot reading "The Waste Land" in my Walkman (I did say "years ago") before walking to work. It was around 20 minutes each way. I could expect to hear "Phlebas the Phoenician, a fortnight dead ..." as I was walking in the front door of the math building. I'd get to the end of the poem around halfway on my way home. Eliot is (to my ears) a good reader, and after months of doing this I'd memorized large chunks of the poem. There are also recordings of him reading "Prufrock" and "Four Quartets" which are very good.

One drawback to this is that I can't multitask while listening to poetry (though now, even music is a problem). So it has to wait till I'm doing something which doesn't require too much attention (which may not be a good thing).

Other good readers of their own poetry - Yeats (though the recordings are very old), Dylan Thomas. Professional readers can sometimes do a good job - I have a recording of Michael Sheen doing "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" which is completely over the top. Best to listen to a sample before you buy.

Re: 'The Waste Land' Reviewed (1923)

#12
I first read The Waste Land in high school without understanding much of it, but it left a big impression. It felt like the end of an era, one in which education was still rooted in the classical tradition (could someone today so casually quote Ovid in a footnote in the original latin, without even attempting a translation?)

Re: 'The Waste Land' Reviewed (1923)

#14

O you who turn the wheel and look to windward, Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.

These two lines are referenced in the Culture series of novels by Iain M Banks. In fact, two book titles are from these two lines!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series

Re: 'The Waste Land' Reviewed (1923)

#15

It helps immensely to hear poetry read, particularly if it's read well. I didn't understand how important the sound is until I started listening - it changed the way I view poetry. If I can't find a recording of a poem, I'll even try reciting it myself. Years ago I started sticking a cassette (!) of Eliot reading "The Waste Land" in my Walkman (I did say "years ago") before walking to work. It was around 20 minutes e…

Ted Hughes recitation of Eliot’s Four Quartets is amazing!
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