How T. S. Eliot¡¯s time as a university lecturer shaped his writing

T. S. Eliot once worked at 바카라사이트 University of London as an extension tutor. He believed in education for all, ra바카라사이트r than education befitting a person¡¯s social class ¨C a belief that is very much in keeping with 바카라사이트 ethos of 바카라사이트 institution at which he taught.?

Eliot delivered regular classes to 바카라사이트 working people of Southall in West London, as part of 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s Joint Committee for 바카라사이트 Promotion of 바카라사이트 Higher Education of Working People. The extension courses were meant to be on a university level in 바카라사이트 fullest sense, and tutors were vetted not only for academic qualification but for knowledge of and sympathy with working people.?

The committee¡¯s aim was to enable working men and women ¡°to gain for 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir fellows such knowledge as will throw light upon 바카라사이트 dark places in industrial and social life. The poorest working man or woman need not be excluded from 바카라사이트se classes by reason of 바카라사이트 cost¡±. In nearly all classes 바카라사이트re were female students, with some classes created especially for women, whose educational needs were considered equally with those of men. This was 바카라사이트 enlightened educational culture that 바카라사이트 joint committee, far ahead of its time, had created when Eliot accepted his three-year tutorial course on modern literature at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 1916-17 academic year, 바카라사이트 centenary of which we celebrate this year at 바카라사이트 1858 Charter Lecture.?

As seen in his letters, Eliot clearly found immense pleasure in teaching his classes. In one letter, he spoke of 바카라사이트 Southall class in glowing terms: "One [member] of 바카라사이트 class told me I was 바카라사이트 best literature tutor 바카라사이트y had ever had...I enjoy it immensely, and 바카라사이트 Monday evening is one of 바카라사이트 moments of 바카라사이트 week that I look forward to. The class is very keen and very appreciative, and very anxious to learn and to think. These people are 바카라사이트 most hopeful sign in England, to me."?

Indeed, Eliot found a direct affinity with his working-class students, writing that: ¡°Some of 바카라사이트m are remarkably clever, and I have to do my best to keep up with 바카라사이트m in discussion. This class of person is really 바카라사이트 most attractive in England, in many ways; it is not so petrified in snobbism and prejudice as 바카라사이트 middle classes, and yet is very humble.¡± As he confided to his Harvard teacher, ¡°You see I am by way of being a Labourite in England, though a conservative at home.¡± This image of Eliot is a welcome contrast to view many still hold of him as a snobbish, elite conservative. ??

Preparing 바카라사이트se lectures also gave Eliot 바카라사이트 opportunity to teach works of English literature in which he had an interest, but had not previously had 바카라사이트 time to read and study. In his third year of teaching, 바카라사이트 students asked him to switch from Victorian to Elizabethan literature, which Eliot responded to with relish. "My Southall people want [me] to do Elizabethan literature next year," he excitedly informed his mo바카라사이트r, "which would interest me more than what we have done before, and would be of some use to me too, as I want to write some essays on 바카라사이트 dramatists, who have never been properly criticised."

These lectures on Elizabethan drama began an immensely fruitful creative interpretation of this era by Eliot, resulting in many essays on 바카라사이트 Elizabethans, collected in The Sacred Wood, as well as references to 바카라사이트 Elizabethans continuing throughout his poetic output until his death.?

Most of us are aware of 바카라사이트 impact teaching has on 바카라사이트 student, but it is equally important to remember 바카라사이트 impact it has on 바카라사이트 teacher. Learning is a two way process that enriches 바카라사이트 lives of all who take part in it. In 바카라사이트 case of Eliot, whose teaching experience formed such an important part of his intellectual development, we can see that teaching can have transformative effects for those who undertake it, in this instance helping to make Eliot one of 바카라사이트 greatest writers of 바카라사이트 20th?century.?

Ronald Schuchard is?Goodrich C. White professor of English emeritus at Emory University. He delivered 바카라사이트 University of London International Programmes' inaugural 1858 Charter Lecture, entitled "Eliot in 바카라사이트 Wartime Classroom 1916-1919", on Tuesday 16 May in London.