1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?
The significance of the poem’s epigraph is that it is from Dante’s Inferno. Dante shares personal thoughts on the subject of hell. Dante has some sort of power over his readers. No one is entitled to criticize him because he has seen hell firsthand in a way. It relates to Prufrock because Prufrock shares his own personal account. Again, there isn’t many people who can critique Prufrock because of his ability to not open up himself completely in his writing. He will never share any of his feelings to others. He is too hesistant and unconfident. Standing out, or being different are some things he dare not do. His self-consciousness protected him in a way, like how Dante’s thoughts were protected because people did not know about the unknown of hell.
2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?
What is it? Do I dare? So how should I presume? Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? Shall I part my hair behind? The questions Prufrock asks himself are undoubtedly a pattern. They express a pattern of uncertainty is his life. Prufrock’s indecisiveness is a theme of this piece of literature. The questioning shows a theme of hesitation and fright. Prufrock is self–conscience and he is not sure if he should do one thing or another. He repeats questions several times, showing how much he ponders over trivial occurances.
3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?
Prufrock’s main flaw is his flaw of being so self-conscious. He cannot seem to function by himself. The questions he asks himself are indirect questions; like he is asking, or reaching out to another life force to make decisions in his brain for him. He is a textbook worry wart. Since he has never experienced love, his worries translate into anxiousness to find meaning in life.
4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?
It is called a love song because it is ironic. In fact, it is the complete opposite of a love song. There is a nonexsistence of love in the song. Sadness, worry, and hesistation are displayed by J. Alfred Prufrock in this love song. It is not a love song, it is a song about the absence of love and meaning in a man’s life.
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