Changes

'''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 counseled 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 ==

&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/>

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==