The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot

Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot

Grade Level: This lesson plan is intended for High School English, ideally 11th or 12th grade.

Subject: Literature

Time Allotment: Two class periods (approximately 1.5 hours)

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will be able to analyze the poem's use of free verse, imagery, and symbolism.
  • Students will be able to identify the character traits and internal struggles of J. Alfred Prufrock.
  • Students will be able to discuss the poem's themes of alienation, isolation, and the search for meaning in a fragmented world.
  • Students will be able to consider the poem's place within the Modernist movement.

Materials:

  • Copies of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot
  • Whiteboard or projector
  • Markers or pens
  • Literary analysis worksheet focusing on imagery and symbolism (optional)
  • Background information on Modernism (optional)

Lesson Procedure:

Day 1: Introduction and Close Reading

  1. Introduction (10 minutes):
  • Briefly introduce T.S. Eliot and his role in the Modernist movement.
  • Discuss the characteristics of Modernist poetry, including fragmentation, disillusionment, and experimentation with form.
  • Mention the poem's title and the concept of a "love song" as potentially ironic.
  1. Active Reading and Annotation (20 minutes):
  • Distribute copies of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."
  • Guide students through a close reading activity, focusing on:

✵ Structure and form: Identify the use of free verse and its impact on the poem's rhythm and flow.

✵ Imagery: How does Eliot use vivid descriptions to create a specific atmosphere?

✵ Symbolism: What are some recurring symbols (e.g., fog, mermaids, evenings) and what might they represent?

  1. Imagery and Symbolism Analysis (20 minutes):
  • Distribute a literary analysis worksheet focusing on imagery and symbolism (optional).
  • Individually or in small groups, students analyze specific examples and their significance:

✵ How does the imagery contribute to the speaker's sense of alienation and isolation?

✵ What emotions are evoked by specific symbols? (e.g., fear, regret, longing)

✵ How do the fragmented images reflect the speaker's fragmented inner world?

Day 2: Character and Themes

  1. Review (5 minutes):
  • Briefly review the previous day's discussion on imagery and symbolism.
  1. Character Analysis (20 minutes):
  • Lead a class discussion focused on the character of J. Alfred Prufrock:

✵ What are Prufrock's defining personality traits? Consider self-doubt, social anxiety, and a sense of inadequacy.

✵ How does the poem portray his internal struggles, particularly in expressing his love?

✵ Is Prufrock a sympathetic or frustrating character? Encourage different interpretations.

  1. Theme Discussion (20 minutes):
  • Discuss the poem's central themes based on character analysis:

✵ Alienation and isolation: How does Prufrock feel disconnected from the world around him?

✵ The search for meaning in a fragmented world: How does the poem capture the anxieties and disillusionment of the Modernist era?

✵ The nature of love: How does Prufrock's fear and self-consciousness prevent him from expressing his feelings?

  1. Modernist Context (15 minutes):
  • Briefly discuss the historical and cultural context of Modernism (optional, based on available resources).
  • How does "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" reflect the broader concerns of the Modernist movement?

Differentiation:

  • Provide scaffolding for reading comprehension by offering a glossary of unfamiliar words or explanatory notes on Modernist references.
  • Offer different options for the analysis worksheet (e.g., creating a mood board depicting the poem's imagery, tracing the development of a specific symbol throughout the poem).
  • Allow students to choose a specific image or symbol to focus on and analyze its psychological and thematic significance.

Extension Activities:

  • Students can research the concept of the "waste land" in Modernist literature.
  • Have students write a diary entry from the perspective of a character who observes Prufrock at a social gathering.
  • Compare and contrast "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" with another Modernist poem that explores themes of alienation and disillusionment.