1. The Waste Land
The Fire
Sermon

2. The Juxtaposition Within

3. Summary
• Description of Thames River
– “Dull Canal”
• Mid November
– “the last fingers of leaves”
• Alludes to WWI
– “they wash their feet in soda water”

4. Symbols
• Thames River
– Represents death
• Death by drowning
• WWI Battle site
• Rat
– Symbolizes the harsh realities of death
– Reasserts the “nothing after death” idea
• Elements
– Fire
• Life and lust
– Water
• Death

5. Figurative language
• Irony- water to death and fire to life
• Repetition – “Sweet Thames” “The
nymphs are departed”
• Onomatopoeia- “Twit Twit Twit” “Jug Jug
Jug Jug Jug Jug”

6. Allusions
• Fire Sermon
– Buddhas sermon on the fires of lust and other
passions which destroy lunch
• Wash Their Feet In Soda Water
– WWI reference to Australian troop song
• Teru
– Reference to Greek mythology and rape

7. Theme
The perceptions of the dualities of life
determine the caliber of your being.

8. Recurring ideas
• Circle
– Lots of the letter O
• WWI
– References the Australian troops
• Death
– Father and brother died
– Rat and bones
• Circle of life
– “Departed have left no addresses”
– “rattled by the rats foot only”