Journal #17

1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?

Prufrock identifies himself with Dante’s Inferno where he does not have to share his thoughts with the world but rather keep them personal so he would feel no shame with the world and how they would think of him if they were able to hear his thoughts. This shows the internal experience people have with their own thoughts. It shows the stream of conscienceness between Prufrock and the guy in the soliloquy from Dante’s Inferno.

2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?

“Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”

“How his hair is growing thin”

“But how his arms and legs are thin”

There is a pattern because he is usually talking about his appearance and how people might judge him so he wants to be careful about how he dresses and looks.

3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?

His self confidence because he is always questioning his appreance and how he’s going to look to other people. He worries too much about how people think about the way he looks and not the way he acts. He thinks that people only see the outward appearance of somebody and not the personality they have on the inside.

4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?

I think this is called a love song because it has to do with Prufrok trying to find love. He tries so hard to impress everyone he meets and worries so much about his appreance that it’s almost like you’re reading a love story because they usually show how the guy meets a girl or tries to. It’s also ironic because he isn’t in a relationship or has any loves in his life but he wants to find someone.