Journal 17: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Journal 17 - “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” – T.S. Eliot (p.775)
 
1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?
Prufrock and the author of the epigraph both are the same, they do not put their feelings and thoughts out for the public. Both keep things to themselves and are self-conscience.
I think that the poem is significant because it relates back to the speaker. It is described as if it was meant for Prufrock’s ideal listener. The epigraph describes one who is lost but will never betray to the world the secrets of Prufrock, although nothing like that exists, and one is left to silent reflection.
 
 
2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?
 
a. "What is it?"
a. "Do I dare?"
b. "Do I dare Disturb the universe?"
c. "So how should I presume?"
d. "To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?"
e. "And how should I presume?"
f. "is it perfume from a dress that makes me so digress?"
g. "And should I then presume?"
h. "And how should I begin?"
i. "Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?"
j. "Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?"
k. "Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?"
 
These questions form a pattern that may be focusing on Prufrock’s compulsiveness, lack of self-esteem, and isolation.
 
 
3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?
I think Prufrock faces many flaws/problems, one being his lack of self-confidence, anxiety, indecisive, and he comments made up in his mind. Another flaw/problem Prufrock faces is his motivation to peruse something. Instead he talks himself out of a situation, thinking of all the negative instead of the positive. Overall, Prufrock is unable to further relationships because he is emotionally distance from the rest of the world.
 
 
4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?
I think that it is called a love song as an irony. Prufrock is not in love and does not have relationships with other people. It is ironic because he is lonely, not in love.