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'''Thomas Stearns Eliot''' (1888-1965) was a poet, playwright, and literary critic.  He was a dominant force in the English and American literary scene during the middle third of the twentieth century.  Some of his works include the "Waste Land" <ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli3.htm</ref> in 1922, and the "Journey of the Magi" in 1927.  He studied at Oxford, Paris, and Harvard.  Eventually, he won the Nobel Prize for literature.

'''Thomas Stearns Eliot''' (1888-1965) was a poet, playwright, and literary critic.  He was a dominant force in the English and American literary scene during the middle third of the twentieth century.  Some of his works include the "Waste Land"<ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli3.htm</ref> in 1922, and the "Journey of the Magi" in 1927.  He studied at Oxford, Paris, and Harvard.  Eventually, he won the Nobel Prize for literature.

T. S. Eliot was born and grew up in St. Louis, [[Missouri]], along the Mississippi River. But in adulthood he moved to England. In 1927 he renounced his American citizenship, became a British subject, and converted to Anglicanism. He described himself as "classicist in literature, royalist in politics, and Anglo-Catholic in religion." Eliot's religious views are most notably contained in the poem ''Ash Wednesday'', which he wrote in 1927 after his conversion, and particularly in the ''Four Quartets''. These were four related poems published separately between 1935 and 1942, and republished in one volume in 1943. Their titles are ''Burnt Norton'', <ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/norton.html</ref> ''East Coker'' <ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/coker.html</ref>, ''The Dry Salvages'' <ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/salvages.html</ref>, and ''Little Gidding'' <ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/gidding.html</ref>.

T. S. Eliot was born and grew up in St. Louis, [[Missouri]], along the Mississippi River. But in adulthood he moved to England. In 1927 he renounced his American citizenship, became a British subject, and converted to Anglicanism. He described himself as "classicist in literature, royalist in politics, and Anglo-Catholic in religion." Eliot's religious views are most notably contained in the poem ''Ash Wednesday'', which he wrote in 1927 after his conversion, and particularly in the ''Four Quartets''. These were four related poems published separately between 1935 and 1942, and republished in one volume in 1943. Their titles are ''Burnt Norton'',<ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/norton.html</ref> ''East Coker'',<ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/coker.html</ref> ''The Dry Salvages'',<ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/salvages.html</ref> and ''Little Gidding''.<ref>http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/gidding.html</ref>

Eliot considered Four Quartets to be his masterpiece. It draws upon his study, over three decades, of mysticism and philosophy. Christian imagery and symbolism in the poems is abundant

Eliot considered Four Quartets to be his masterpiece. It draws upon his study, over three decades, of mysticism and philosophy. Christian imagery and symbolism in the poems is abundant

Notable plays include ''The Cocktail Party,'' which concerns a group of contemporary people talking about their marital and other problems, and who are counselled by a mysterious character, ostensibly a psychiatrist; and ''Murder in the Cathedral,'' about the death of [[Thomas Becket]].

Notable plays include ''The Cocktail Party,'' which concerns a group of contemporary people talking about their marital and other problems, and who are counseled by a mysterious character, ostensibly a psychiatrist; and ''Murder in the Cathedral,'' about the death of [[Thomas Becket]].

== Excerpts ==

== Excerpts ==

Some famous lines from T. S. Eliot that are often alluded to or quoted include:

Some famous lines from T. S. Eliot that are often alluded to or quoted include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?<br/>

&nbsp;&nbsp;I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach<br/>

&nbsp;&nbsp;I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.<br/>

&nbsp;&nbsp;I do not think that they will sing to me.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;I do not think that they will sing to me.<br/>

::(from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" <ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli1.htm</ref>)

::(from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock")<ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli1.htm</ref>

&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the way the world ends<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the way the world ends<br/>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Not with a bang but a whimper.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Not with a bang but a whimper.<br/>

::(from "The Hollow Men"<ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli2.htm</ref>)

::(from "The Hollow Men")<ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli2.htm</ref>

&nbsp;&nbsp;April is the cruellest month, breeding<br>  

&nbsp;&nbsp;April is the cruellest month, breeding<br/>  

&nbsp;&nbsp;Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing<br>  

&nbsp;&nbsp;Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing<br/>  

&nbsp;&nbsp;Memory and desire, stirring <br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Memory and desire, stirring <br/>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Dull roots with spring rain.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Dull roots with spring rain.<br/>

::(from "The Waste Land"<ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli3.htm</ref>)

::(from "The Waste Land")<ref>http://www.artofeurope.com/eliot/eli3.htm</ref>

The whole earth is our hospital<br>

The whole earth is our hospital<br/>

Endowed by the ruined millionaire,<br>

Endowed by the ruined millionaire,<br/>

Wherein, if we do well, we shall<br>

Wherein, if we do well, we shall<br/>

Die of the absolute paternal care<br>

Die of the absolute paternal care<br/>

That will not leave us, but prevents us everywhere.

That will not leave us, but prevents us everywhere.

::(from East Coker, Four Quartets, <ref>http://www.ubriaco.com/fq.html</ref>

::(from East Coker, Four Quartets)<ref>http://www.ubriaco.com/fq.html</ref>

==References==

==References==

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==External links==

==External links==