Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- How is the technique of repetition used in this poem? Why would a poem like this demand that its speaker be so repetitive? In your mind, is repetition an effective technique in this poem? Why or why not? Could the speaker have made the same point in fewer words?
- Do you think it is appropriate to read historical context (like the events of World War Two) into the "Four Quartets," or would the speaker want us to read the thing as a completely timeless masterpiece? What evidence from the text supports your answer?
- Why would Eliot specifically choose to call this work "Four Quartets" even though each section has five parts? What is the significance of the number four in this poem? What sorts of things do you tend to think about when you think of this number?
- What is the speaker actually trying to get at in these poems? Is it something that he can even put into words? Is it even possible to make sense of these poems? Why do you think so?
- At some points, the speaker seems like he's really into Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism; at other points, he seems all about Jesus. What religious outlook do you think the speaker endorses in this work? What examples from the text support your answer?
- In your opinion, is the "Four Quartets" an optimistic poem or a pessimistic one? Why? What good or bad does the speaker think is going to come over the world?
- According to the speaker, why is it so important for modern people to learn to live in the "here and now"? In what ways do our everyday lives distract us from the here and now?
- Why do you think Eliot brings images and places from his personal past (i.e., "Burnt Norton" or "East Coker") into this poem? Does this take away from the poem's ability to be universal in its meaning? Why or why not?