The Waste Land : Literary devices
The Waste Land is a notable literary work by T. S. Eliot. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Waste Land.
Literary devices
Symbols
The Waste Land: The Waste Land symbolizes spiritual barrenness and decay. It represents a world without meaning, where human life has lost its vitality, and there is no hope for renewal or redemption.
Unreal City: Unreal City represents a dehumanized society. It symbolizes modern urban life that is crowded, empty, and disconnected. Cities like London and Paris are shown as places of moral emptiness.
Water: Water represents life, purification, and rebirth. It can heal and renew, but in the poem, it is often missing, symbolizing spiritual drought. Water’s absence creates the sterility of the Waste Land.
Fire: Fire symbolizes desire, lust, and spiritual torment. It represents the hellish consequences of unchecked passions. However, fire also holds the potential for purification, as it can burn away impurities.
Tarot Cards: Tarot cards represent fate, fortune, and spiritual insight. Madame Sosostris uses the cards to predict and reflect the disarray in human lives. The cards symbolize cycles of life, destruction, and waiting.