Re-Visiting T.S. Eliot’s Poetry through Henri Lefebvre’s Rhythmanalysis

Abstract

This paper explores the elements of rhythm in the social space in T.S. Eliot’s early poems and The Waste Land. One of the leading literary figures of the modernist era, Eliot dealt with the representation of the alienated individual within the boundary of the upper-middle class which can be followed especially in “The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock.” Regarding the theoretical context of the study, Henri Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis theory is applied to reveal how Eliot observed, understood and listened to the rhythms of city life. While observing people within the culture of the city, Eliot listened to the mechanisms present in this space. However, his concern of space and sound did not follow a single route, yet led to a wide, universal level. Thus, this paper intends to display Eliot’s perception of rhythm in his poems from the perspective of Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis.