Topic > Summary of the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

The fragmented experience is highlighted by the use of register and poetic form, in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by TS Eliot. This fragmentation emphasizes the disjointed experience of the modern world and lifestyle, and the experiences of those who live in it. Using a modernist style, T. S. Eliot emphasizes this fragmentation through form, meter, and register, throughout the poem. TS Eliot uses various forms, meters and registers throughout the poem. It uses rhyming couplets, which are often referred to as "heroic." The use of the "heroic" couplet serves as a mockery of the poem's main protagonist, as Prufrock is not portrayed as heroic, nor does he consider himself heroic. Some rhymes have a musical, childish quality, as if mocking. The Oxford Dictionary explains that register is “A variety of language or level of use, determined by the degree of formality and the choice of vocabulary, pronunciation and syntax, according to the communicative purpose.” , social context, and user location." As discussed by Muhammad Saleem (2012), there is a register deviation in the title, as "The Love Song" is a romantic and poetic phrase, while the name "J. Alfred Prufrock” seems ordinary, unpoetic and unromantic, as if it doesn't belong in a love song. 'Pru' indicates a sense of modesty and the surname 'Prufrock' indicates "prudence, composure and respectability" (Southam,1977, p.29). This creates a feeling of disorientation compared to "Love Song", which highlights that this is not an ordinary, conventional love song, and that the title is an intentional mockery of ordinary, traditional love. When talking about himself, Prufrock uses phrases such as "a "bald spot", "hair", "chin", "arms" and "legs", which are ordinary, banal and unheroic. These terms, as he refers to his own physiology and to himself, are lexical, while the more formal expressions of "pin", "tie", "coat" and "collar" refer to the clothes he wears. Prufrock sees his clothes as heroic, and not himself, the which leads to juxtaposition. Prufrock does not refer to himself as a whole, but rather as the sum of multiple parts. This highlights the fragmentation that occurs throughout the poem. His clothing also seems to be seen in a fragmented way, however, it is portrayed as heroic, while the description of Prufrock himself is not heroic on a masculine level.