The present thesis is about aspects of Wagnerism in the works of T.S. Eliot, in terms of both influence and affinities. The opening chapter offers a brief historical background to Eliot's familiarity with and relation to Wagner, as well as an account of the principal issues to be discussed in the following chapters. The two artists' volumes of criticism mostly show in theory how they work in practice. One key theme there is the maintenance of the idea of tradition and at the same time that of revolutionizing the arts (poetry, opera and drama). Eliot's interest in music, notably in the use of the Wagnerian leitmotif, is one of the highlights of this study. Then, Eliot's concern for myths: his 'mythical method' is discussed in a separate chapter for comparison with Wagner's way of handling myths in his operas. Other important topics feature drama, the Greeks and Shakespeare, and poetry, especially Dante's, the Romantics' and that of the French Symbolists. Certain themes common in both (like salvation and love) are tackled in more than one chapter because of their relevance throughout, but a selection of motifs is singled out in a separate chapter. The study also investigates Eliot's and Wagner's relation to art and life from religious (Buddhism and Christianity) and philosophical (Schopenhauer and Nietzsche) paints of view. Where relevant, some biographical data shedding light on their arts are touched upon--e.g. their personal (including marital) experiences and their anti-Semitism. The concluding chapter rounds off the subject by mainly offering some possible reasons for Eliot's obscure and neglected Wagnerism.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:264554 |
Date | January 1999 |
Creators | Bahbahani, A. |
Publisher | University of Sussex |
Source Sets | Ethos UK |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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