PREVIEW
THE ESSAY:
Moreover, "The Fire Sermon" can be seen as an
attempt to present multiple perspectives
simultaneously, much like the cubist painters
Brooker discusses. By juxtaposing these
disparate elements, Eliot creates a complex and
multi-layered portrait of modern life that
challenges the reader to perceive the world in
new ways.
Brooker's argument about the redefinition of
artistic limits in the twentieth century applies to
T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. The poem's
innovative narrative structure and fragmented
style reflect a conscious effort to evade traditional
narrative and temporal constraints, aligning it with
the broader trends in modern art and literature
described by Brooker.
ENG3705 NATALIE FOXX
ASSIGNMENT 1 2024
NF 2024
, Assignment: The Waste Land
Semester 1
Important: Read the chapter entitled “Wilderness of Mirrors: Perspectives on the Twentieth
Century” (available as an e-reserve on the library website), in which Brooker discusses some
of the influences and ideas prevalent in Western thought in the early twentieth century, before
attempting this question.
Additional activities – worth 5% extra!
1. Summarise Brooker’s chapter in your own words.
2. After reading the assignment question, how do you think you might be able to use this
chapter to support your argument?
3. The age of generative AI is changing the way we write. Many students now try to use AI to
generate responses to assignment questions instead of doing the work themselves. Why is
this problematic?
4. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on what you hope to learn in this course, and why
using generative AI would prevent you from reaching those goals.
5. Write a paragraph in which you explain why students should not plagiarise in assignments.
In ‘Wilderness of Mirrors: Perspectives on the Twentieth Century’, Brooker argues that artists
in the twentieth century were trying to redefine the limits of their medium:
[t]he parallel in the literary arts is an evasion of time, and this is attempted by
abandoning the principles governing point of view and by abandoning narrative
(p. 23-24).
In an essay of 1200-1500 words, discuss to what extent you agree with this argument as
applied to T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. In your answer, refer to any one section of the poem
specifically to support your argument.
THE ESSAY:
Brooker's argument in "Wilderness of Mirrors: Perspectives on the Twentieth Century"
suggests that artists in the twentieth century, including T.S. Eliot, sought to redefine the limits
of their medium by evading traditional principles governing their art forms. Specifically, Brooker
highlights the parallel between visual arts and literature: while visual artists tried to avoid
presenting three-dimensional space, literary artists attempted to evade time by abandoning
principles of point of view and narrative.
In the context of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, this argument finds resonance in the poem's
fragmented and non-linear narrative structure. Eliot's poem can be seen as an attempt to
circumvent traditional narrative conventions, much like the modern painters Brooker describes.
The Waste Land is a collage of different voices, texts, and images, creating a mosaic of
perspectives and temporalities that challenge the reader's perception of time and space.
One section of The Waste Land that exemplifies this aspect of Eliot's work is "The Fire
Sermon." In this section, Eliot presents a series of fragmented images and scenes, including
depictions of urban decay, religious rituals, and sexual encounters. The poem shifts abruptly
THE ESSAY:
Moreover, "The Fire Sermon" can be seen as an
attempt to present multiple perspectives
simultaneously, much like the cubist painters
Brooker discusses. By juxtaposing these
disparate elements, Eliot creates a complex and
multi-layered portrait of modern life that
challenges the reader to perceive the world in
new ways.
Brooker's argument about the redefinition of
artistic limits in the twentieth century applies to
T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. The poem's
innovative narrative structure and fragmented
style reflect a conscious effort to evade traditional
narrative and temporal constraints, aligning it with
the broader trends in modern art and literature
described by Brooker.
ENG3705 NATALIE FOXX
ASSIGNMENT 1 2024
NF 2024
, Assignment: The Waste Land
Semester 1
Important: Read the chapter entitled “Wilderness of Mirrors: Perspectives on the Twentieth
Century” (available as an e-reserve on the library website), in which Brooker discusses some
of the influences and ideas prevalent in Western thought in the early twentieth century, before
attempting this question.
Additional activities – worth 5% extra!
1. Summarise Brooker’s chapter in your own words.
2. After reading the assignment question, how do you think you might be able to use this
chapter to support your argument?
3. The age of generative AI is changing the way we write. Many students now try to use AI to
generate responses to assignment questions instead of doing the work themselves. Why is
this problematic?
4. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on what you hope to learn in this course, and why
using generative AI would prevent you from reaching those goals.
5. Write a paragraph in which you explain why students should not plagiarise in assignments.
In ‘Wilderness of Mirrors: Perspectives on the Twentieth Century’, Brooker argues that artists
in the twentieth century were trying to redefine the limits of their medium:
[t]he parallel in the literary arts is an evasion of time, and this is attempted by
abandoning the principles governing point of view and by abandoning narrative
(p. 23-24).
In an essay of 1200-1500 words, discuss to what extent you agree with this argument as
applied to T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. In your answer, refer to any one section of the poem
specifically to support your argument.
THE ESSAY:
Brooker's argument in "Wilderness of Mirrors: Perspectives on the Twentieth Century"
suggests that artists in the twentieth century, including T.S. Eliot, sought to redefine the limits
of their medium by evading traditional principles governing their art forms. Specifically, Brooker
highlights the parallel between visual arts and literature: while visual artists tried to avoid
presenting three-dimensional space, literary artists attempted to evade time by abandoning
principles of point of view and narrative.
In the context of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, this argument finds resonance in the poem's
fragmented and non-linear narrative structure. Eliot's poem can be seen as an attempt to
circumvent traditional narrative conventions, much like the modern painters Brooker describes.
The Waste Land is a collage of different voices, texts, and images, creating a mosaic of
perspectives and temporalities that challenge the reader's perception of time and space.
One section of The Waste Land that exemplifies this aspect of Eliot's work is "The Fire
Sermon." In this section, Eliot presents a series of fragmented images and scenes, including
depictions of urban decay, religious rituals, and sexual encounters. The poem shifts abruptly
