An Analysis Of The Religious Dimension Of T.S. Eliot’s Literary Thought

T.S.Eliot is an influential poet,dramatist and critic of the 20th century.His literary creation and criticism have brought great change to the development of modern western literature.Since Eliot’s conversion to Anglo-Catholicism and declaration of identity--classicist in literature,Anglo-Catholic in religion in 1927,scholars have shown great concern and share different judgement on the religious elements of his literature creation and religious perspective in literary criticism of ages passed.This paper reviews and reevaluates the criticism related to literature and religion written by Eliot combining with his literature creation practice.The focus of this paper is to explore how Eliot’s religious standpoint influences his thinking on literature and endows him with a unique critical perspective.This paper points out that secularization is the focus of Eliot’s thinking of the situation of modern literature.On the basis of explaining this phenomenon,this paper combs his discussion on the secularization of literature from three levels: the theory of literary creation and criticism,and the relationship between the discipline of religion and literature,as well as the corresponding responsibilities of men of letters.Firstly,from the perspective of the theory of literary creation,this paper points out Eliot’s concern about the plight of contemporary literary expression,and combs the different forms of “the objective correlative” in the process of secularization,as well as discusses the historical responsibility of poets to reconstruct the common expression in the modern context where the traditional symbolic system is lost.Secondly,as for the theory of literary criticism,this paper expounds the necessity of introducing religious standard into literary criticism proposed by Eliot combining with his critical practice,deeply exploring his discussion on the social function of literature and the social responsibility that critics should undertake.Finally,this paper points out that Eliot’s literary criticism takes a “Via Media”.On the one hand,his criticism maintains the aesthetic autonomy of literature,on the other hand,he places literature in a broader social context,endowing literature with the power to touch the times and human nature to fight against the trend of secularization.This paper suggests that,as a writer,critic,and Anglo-Catholic,literature and religion constitute Eliot’s unique perspective on understanding his time.He thinks about the rise and decline of the European culture from the perspective of the development of the relationship between literature and religion.He responds to the appeal of the age he lives in the way of literary study.Eliot’s way of thinking about social problems and his emphasis on the social responsibility of humanists will inspire contemporary researchers.