The epigraph of the poem is a passage from Dante Aligheri's Divine Comedy, more specifically the Inferno. ... Eliot brings the poem back to the epigraph in the ending lines of the poem as Prufrock seemingly falls into the eternal hell of his indecisiveness. ... The first and last ten lines seem to be the strongest references to Dante's Inferno, which make them the most appropriate since the epigraph is a direct quote from Dante. ...

• Word Count: 560
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Eliot begins the poem with an epigraph from Dante's Inferno suggesting that Prufrock speaks only because he is sure no one will listen and what has or has not been done will remain in that state. ... The imagery of "a patient etherized upon a table"(3) and "half-deserted streets"(4) paints a somber picture, implying a dark soulless setting, adding to the seclusion set forth by the epigraph. ... Contrary to the endless circuitous steps taken by Prufrock in his dialogue, the epigraph from Dante's Inferno is essential for mirroring his descent without ascension. ...

• Word Count: 964
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Inferno Fever: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" The very first lines of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot are inspired by Dante's "Inferno". It is these first lines that are called the epigraph. In "Inferno, the lines are translated as: If I thought that my reply would...

• Word Count: 341
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School