Entry 74: Poetry's Social Function

T.S. Eliot believed that poetry has a social function. He wrote, “I think it is important that every people should have its own poetry, not simply for those who enjoy poetry . . . but because it actually makes a difference to the society as a whole, and that means to people who do not enjoy poetry… Unless people go on producing great authors, and especially great poets, their language will deteriorate, their culture will deteriorate and perhaps become absorbed in a stronger one.” What do you think about this assertion? Do you agree or disagree? Do you see any evidence of deterioration in culture or language? Do you think poetry’s popularity has an effect on such things?

• I believe that this is quite a true statement. In human geography, there are the terms acculturation and assimilation. Both of these refer to when a culture that is not as dominate is integrated and merged with another culture that is more dominant. Then, as a result, the original not as dominant culture would disappear and people would conform to the society and traditions of the dominant culture. This is quite similar to what T.S. Eliot is saying in his quote. He says that unless people go on and maintain their culture (which is referring to the "...great authors, especially great poets,..."), their culture will disappear (which is referring to the "...their language will deteriorate, their culture will deteriorate...") and be assimilated into a stronger and more dominant culture (which is referring to "...and perhaps become absorbed in a stronger one."). An example of deterioration in culture or language today can be seen when hundreds of native languages are disappearing due to globalization and lingua francas (international languages used for communication, especially for trade and business). Not only poetry, but any and all literary works have numerous and various effects on things such as deterioration in culture and language as more people begin to pursue an education.