TS Elliot

The poem relies heavily on allusions to mythology (especially to Greek and Latin figures) and includes a number of German and French phrases. Both contribute to an overall sense of despair, which is consistent throughout the poem. However, some literary critics regard Elliot's usage of allusions and French and German vernacular as weaknesses which prohibit the average reader from interpreting the poem (Sheridan, 574). Despite these criticisms, the poem still endures as one of Elliot's most read works. .
             It is also interesting to notice that all Eliot's poems which have no narrative pattern and are obscure. He is at his best when he starts telling a story, or describing its consequences. Usually, the story itself is only half present. It must be guessed from a character's enigmatical words. Narrative devices are thus fused with dramatic devices, and behind them a consistent lyrical mood unifies the lines. The Wasteland is the quintessential example of this. It can be considered Eliot's novel, because it is made up of numberless incidents which reveal a crowd of characters, and because these incidents and characters flow into one another, pointing to a common conclusion. .
             Elliot's later works contain much more of a religious element, due to his conversion to the Anglican Church. His post conversion writings include Ash-Wednesday and Four Quartets. The former is a poem of spiritual hope, which is a stark contrast to the disillusionment and despair that marked his earlier works. Ash Wednesday includes a number of obscure bible references which critics point to as a weakness, due to the average readers' inability to recognize these allusions (Davis, 346). However, the biblical allusions enhance the poem and enable Elliot to convey his thoughts more clearly, by providing examples. The poem includes the Lady in White, an image of the spiritual agent of God, who provides love, guidance and ultimately forgiveness.