Harkness Notes - T.S. Eliot, D.F.

Wallace, Enquiry questions

T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent"

Summarize T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent":

T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent" argues that an artist must be aware of
literary tradition in order to create great works of art. He believes that an artist must both be
part of their tradition and also break away from it, as innovation requires a combination of
old and new ideas. Eliot stresses the importance of understanding the history of literature and
the influence it has had on modern writing. He also emphasizes the importance of individual
talent, arguing that creativity is dependent on an individual's ability to interpret existing
works in order to create something new. Eliot ultimately concludes that successful artists are
both aware of their tradition and capable of developing their own innovative ideas within it.

What are the most important quotes in T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual
Talent"?

1. "The progress of an artist is a continual self-sacrifice, a continual extinction of

personality."
2. “What happens is a continual surrender of himself as he is at the moment to something
which is more valuable. The progress of an artist is a continual self-sacrifice, a continual
extinction of personality.”
3. “No poet, no artist of any art, has his complete meaning alone.”
4. "The poet must become more and more comprehensive, more allusive, more indirect, in
order to force, to dislocate if necessary, language into his meaning."
5. “The existing monuments form an ideal order among themselves, which is modified by the
introduction of the new (the really new) work of art among them.”
6. “Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good
poets make it into something better, or at least something different”

What are the most important themes in T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual
Talent"?

1. The importance of tradition: Eliot emphasizes the importance of tradition in literature,

arguing that it provides a basis for creative works. He suggests that without a foundation of
tradition, individual talent would be unable to create anything truly original.

2. The relationship between the individual and the collective: Eliot argues that individual
talent should be viewed as part of a larger collective and that its value is increased when it is
considered in relation to this collective. He suggests that the individual's creativity should not
be seen as separate from the collective context in which it exists.

3. The role of criticism: Eliot argues for a critical approach to literature, suggesting that
criticism should focus on both the individual work and its relation to the wider tradition. He
also suggests that criticism should evaluate works by their contribution to the overall
development of literature.

4. The inevitable judgment that comes from the ancestors is not to say which is better or
worse, but rather to create a comparison between the two works
The poet must be aware of their country's context and history, as well as of the fact that art
does not improve or surpass itself, but that it is in a constant route of development because
we know much more than those artists of the past. Especially because we know about them,
and the ones that came before them, and the ones that came after them and before us

Create five questions and answers relating to T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the
Individual Talent".

Q1. What is the main theme of T.S. Eliot's essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent"?

A1. The main theme of T.S. Eliot's essay is the relationship between tradition and individual
talent, and how they can be reconciled in order to create great works of art.

Q2. What is the relationship between tradition and individual talent, according to Eliot?

A2. According to Eliot, tradition is like a reservoir from which an artist draws inspiration and
knowledge, while individual talent provides a unique perspective on that knowledge and
allows for creativity in creating something new out of it.

Q3. What does Eliot mean by "impersonality" in regards to art?

A3. Impersonality refers to the idea that great works of art are created through a combination
of traditional knowledge, individual talent, and creativity, as opposed to being based solely on
the artist's personal experiences or opinions.

Q4. How does Eliot view originality in art?

A4. According to Eliot, originality is not necessarily the same thing as creativity or
individuality; instead, he suggests that originality should come from combining traditional
ideas with new perspectives in order to create something unique yet still connected with
tradition.
Q5 How does Eliot define “tradition”?

A5 Eliot defines “tradition” as an accumulation of knowledge over time – not only from
literature but also from other art forms – that can be used by an artist as a source of
inspiration for their own work.

Which works are affected by the intertextual impulse of the Western literary canon?
The intertextual impulse of the Western literary canon has had a lasting impact on many
works, from ancient classical texts to modern literature. Examples of works affected by this
influence include Homer's The Odyssey, Dante's Inferno, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales,
Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, Milton's Paradise Lost, Austen's Pride and Prejudice,
Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, Joyce’s Ulysses, Hemingway’s
The Sun Also Rises and Faulkner’s Absalom! Absalom!.

David Foster Wallace's essay "E Unibus Plurum: Television

and US Fiction",

Summarize David Foster Wallace's essay "E Unibus Plurum: Television and US
Fiction"

David Foster Wallace's essay "E Unibus Plurum: Television and US Fiction" examines how
television has influenced the development of contemporary American fiction. Wallace argues
that television has become the primary form of narrative entertainment in the US and that
writers of fiction must grapple with its influence on society and literature. He claims that
writers must come to terms with the fact that television is not just an entertainment medium,
but a cultural force with powerful effects on how we view reality, morality, and art. He
suggests that contemporary American fiction should embrace this influence by incorporating
elements of its narrative structure into their work in order to create something new and
engaging.

“E Unibus Pluram” means “from one, many” and is a solipsistic (self-centered) play on the
American motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” which means “out of many, one.”

What are the most important themes in David Foster Wallace's essay "E Unibus
Plurum: Television and US Fiction"?

1. The Impact of Television on American Fiction: Wallace discusses the influence that
television has had on the development of American fiction, and how it has caused a "cultural
homogenization" of stories. He also argues that television has made fiction less emotionally
challenging and complex.

2. The Need for Authenticity in Art: Wallace argues that art should challenge viewers and be
emotionally engaging, which he believes is not possible in an era dominated by television. He
suggests that a return to authentic art forms would be beneficial for literature and culture.

3. The Role of the Author: Wallace highlights the importance of authors' voices in creating
meaningful work, as well as their responsibility to create stories that reflect their own
experiences and perspectives.

4. The Power of Narrative: Wallace emphasizes the power of narrative in affecting people's
emotions and opinions, and how stories can be used to shape our understanding of the world
around us.

What are the most important quotes in David Foster Wallace's essay "E Unibus
Plurum: Television and US Fiction"?

1. “The next real literary ‘rebels’ in this country might well emerge as some weird bunch of
anti-rebels, born oglers who dare somehow to back away from ironic watching, who have the
childish gall actually to endorse and instantiate single-entendre principles. Who treat of plain
old untrendy human troubles and emotions in U.S. life with reverence and conviction. Who
eschew self-consciousness and hip fatigue. These anti-rebels would be outdated, of course,
before they even started. Dead on the page. Too sincere. Clearly repressed. Backward, quaint,
naïve, chronistic. Maybe that’ll be the postmodern irony: All those daringly originalists who
vowed to crush the squares merely flattened them out.”

2. “The population of these stories is almost always white and middle class…the emotional
range of these stories is far narrower than earlier fiction had tackled…the narrative range is
also narrow: all these stories take place in a very short amount of time...this new fiction is so
ephemeral that it doesn’t even seem to want to be remembered; it doesn’t anticipate
rereading...and while there are still allusions here and there, they are mostly pop culture jokes
or cynical comments on pop culture rather than anything recognizable as traditional literary
allusion...it has become less an artful arabesque than a quick squiggle: entertainment without
the responsibility of art."

3. "Television makes us paranoid about our own reactions because it gives us no real
reactions to react to; television is an artificial stimulus which does not solve problems but
rather dissolves them into a kind of electronic fog"

4. "Our own literature has been reduced by television into a jumble of ironic victimizations
and 'attitude' fictions which neither demand nor expect anything from their audiences beyond
a certain bored knowingness."
5. "What passes for hip cynical transcendence of sentiment is really some kind of fear of
being really human, since to be really human (at least as I understand it) is probably to be
unavoidably sentimental and naive and goo-prone and generally pathetic."

Create five questions and answers relating to David Foster Wallace's essay "E Unibus
Plurum: Television and US Fiction"

What is the main thesis of "E Unibus Pluram: Television and US Fiction"?
A1: The main thesis of the essay is that television has had a significant impact on the
development of US fiction since its emergence as a popular cultural medium. Wallace argues
that television has created a new kind of audience that demands its own kind of fiction, which
is characterized by irony, self-reflexivity, and an awareness of the artificiality of the medium.

What type of literature does David Foster Wallace argue has been affected by
television?

A2: David Foster Wallace argues that US fiction has been significantly affected by television.
He argues that television has created a new kind of audience that demands its own kind of
fiction, which is characterized by irony, self-reflexivity, and an awareness of the artificiality
of the medium.

What does the author consider that television could do for society?

A3: He believes that television can be used to humanize complex social issues and to
educate viewers in an accessible way. He cites shows like The Wire, which addressed topics
such as drug trafficking and systemic racism, as examples of how television can be used to
tell stories that challenge our preconceived notions about the world.
At the same time, he notes that television can also be a platform for escapist entertainment,
such as sitcoms and reality shows.

Q4: What effects have commercialism and advertising had on US fiction according to
"E Unibus Pluram"?

A4: According to "E Unibus Pluram", commercialism and advertising have had a significant
impact on US fiction. Wallace argues that these forces have encouraged writers to produce
works that focus on surface-level narratives rather than more complex themes or ideas. This
has caused many writers to become preoccupied with empty spectacle rather than substance.

How does David Foster Wallace view the relationship between television and literature?
A5: David Foster Wallace views the relationship between television and literature as one in
which each medium influences and shapes the other. He argues that television has had a
significant impact on US fiction since its emergence as a popular cultural medium, creating a
new kind of audience with its own demands for certain kinds of stories. At the same time, he
sees literature as having an influence on how we view television—allowing us to see it from
different perspectives than we might otherwise have seen it from if not for literature's insight
into our culture.

Intertextuality - The New Critical Idiom by Paulina Rivarola.

Summarize Intertextuality - The New Critical Idiom by Paulina Rivarola.

Paulina Rivarola's Intertextuality: The New Critical Idiom is a comprehensive examination of

the concept of intertextuality, an area of literary criticism which studies the ways in which
texts are connected to and influenced by other texts. Rivarola describes intertextuality as "the
recognition and exploration of the dialogues that exist between different texts," arguing that
understanding the concept is key to interpreting modern literature. Rivarola's book provides
an accessible introduction to the subject, exploring its various forms, from allusion and
quotation to parody and pastiche. Through close readings of works from a range of authors,
Rivarola shows how intertextuality can provide us with insights into how texts work and how
they relate to one another. Ultimately, Rivarola argues that intertextuality is an essential tool
for critically understanding literature and culture.

What are the most important themes in Intertextuality - The New Critical Idiom by
Paulina Rivarola?

1. Intertextuality as an Artistic Process: Rivarola examines the concept of intertextuality as an

artistic process, exploring how different texts interact with one another and how each text
influences the other.

2. Intertextuality as a Critical Tool: Rivarola discusses how intertextuality can be used as a

critical tool to lyze texts and their meanings. She also considers ways in which intertextuality
can be used to understand literary works, popular culture, and other forms of discourse.
3. Intertextuality in Context: Rivarola explores how intertextuality is shaped by social and
cultural contexts, examining the ways in which power dynamics play out in the construction
of meaning through intertextual relations.

4. Intertextuality and Ideology: Rivarola looks at how ideologies are expressed through
intertextual links and the implications of these relationships on the meaning of texts.

5. Intertextuality and Identity: Rivarola examines how certain identities are created or
reinforced through intertextual references, exploring how these references shape our
understanding of identity and culture.

What are the most important quotes in Intertextuality - The New Critical Idiom by
Paulina Rivarola?

1. “Intertextuality is an essential aspect of the way we make sense of the world, both in the
past and in the present.”
2. “Intertextuality is a form of interdiscursivity, a complex network of relationships between
texts and contexts.”
3. “Intertextuality is not just a matter of quotation or citation; it is a process of negotiation
between texts, authors, readers and contexts.”
4. “Intertextuality is a way for authors to create meaning within their works by drawing on
existing cultural references and texts in order to create new ones.”
5. “Intertextuality creates an interplay between texts that can be used to examine how
meaning is constructed and interpreted in different ways by different people.”

Create five questions and answers to Intertextuality - The New Critical Idiom by
Paulina Rivarola.

Q1. What is intertextuality?

A1. Intertextuality is a literary and critical theory or concept that focuses on the relationships
between texts, including conversations between writers and readers, connections between
texts of different kinds, and the influences of one text on another.

Q2. How does intertextuality affect literature?

A2. Intertextuality affects literature by creating a dialogue between texts, allowing authors to
incorporate past works into their writing, and providing a means for readers to question how
texts relate to each other. It also allows readers to make new interpretations based on their
own experiences and perspectives.
What are some examples of intertextual relationships?
Allusions to other works within a text, adaptations of stories from one genre to another,
references to popular culture in literary works, and the rewriting of stories from different
points of view or perspectives.

Q4. What are the implications of intertextuality for literary study?

A4. The implications of intertextuality for literary study include recognizing that all texts
exist in relation to other texts, understanding how themes or ideas are developed across
multiple works, and exploring how certain meanings evolve over time as they are
reinterpreted in new contexts.

Q5 Why is it important to consider intertextuality when studying literature?

A5 It is important to consider intertextuality when studying literature because it helps us
understand how authors draw upon existing works when creating their own pieces, how
readers interact with these works in order to make sense of them, and how particular ideas
evolve over time as they are reinterpreted in new contexts.

To what extent has the contract between reader, writer and text changed across time
and space?
Mia: The contract between reader, writer and text has changed across time and space as
cultural norms, technology, and the availability of literature have all evolved. In the past,
books were rare and expensive, so readers were expected to treat them with respect; writers
had to be very careful about the content they produced in order to ensure their works were
accepted by the public. As the availability of books increased and technology advanced, the
contract between reader, writer, and text became more relaxed. Readers were no longer
expected to treat books with such reverence; writers could explore new forms of expression;
and texts could contain anything from serious literature to pulp fiction. Today, with access to
digital literature as well as traditional print material, readers have even more freedom of
choice when it comes to selecting what they read. Writers

What is the future of literature vs. the future of the literary?

The future of literature is likely to be shaped by a combination of technological advances and
cultural changes. Technology will likely continue to expand our access to literature, allowing
for more diverse and inclusive works, as well as easier access to works from around the
world. At the same time, literature will continue to evolve in its content and form, adapted to
the changing cultural landscape.
The future of the literary is likely to remain focused on the written word, with further
advances in digital technology continuing to open up new opportunities for authors and
publishers. However, new forms of storytelling such as interactive stories augmented reality
experiences and audio-visual media could also become more important in the literary
landscape. Ultimately, it is difficult to predict what exactly the future holds for literature and
literary culture but it is clear that

How do modern texts differ from the literary canon?

Modern texts tend to be more inclusive, and feature a variety of voices that were not
present in the literary canon. They also often explore topics that were previously considered
forbidden and are written in different writing styles than those used for canonical works.
Modern texts also generally reflect the current culture, provide commentary on social issues,
and often have a more diverse array of characters.

what is Elliot tradition: Tradition and the Individual Talent, main theme?
The main theme of T.S. Eliot's Tradition and the Individual Talent is the relationship between
the past, present, and future of literature and how individual talent interacts with this
tradition. Eliot argues that by engaging in a dialogue with the past, an individual writer can
create something new that is both faithful to the tradition and a unique expression of his or
her own talent. He also stresses the importance of taking into account literary history when
crafting works of art in order to avoid producing something that is merely derivative or
mediocre.

Can the theme from Eliot's tradition and the individual talent be argued against?
Yes, the theme of Eliot's "Tradition and the Individual Talent" could certainly be argued
against. Critics may argue that tradition can be restrictive, oppressing individual creativity
and expression. They may also contend that an individual's talent should be prioritized over
any traditional forms of expression or art.