Dec 18, 2009

Selected Essays, 1917-1932 | Style

Circuitous Argument
Selected Essays, 1917-1932 engages in a subtle and complex form of argument that can be called "circuitous,'' or roundabout and even indirect. Students of Eliot without a profound literary background in English literature are likely to find his essays very difficult reading material, not only because of the vast number of literary allusions but because of the complexity of the author's points that are subtly woven into the essays. Only after having read most or all of the Selected Essays, 1917-1932 is Eliot's entire theory clear; the essays...