In his essay, Tradition and Individual Talent, T.S Elliot challenges writers to pay homage to those who came before them. Instead of seeking to create pieces that reflect their personality and is completely dissociated from the past, Elliot calls on writers to embrace the past and tradition (Elliot, 2009). They should ensure that they borrow the styles that their ancestors relied on. As I read this essay, I was forced to reflect on my own writing style. I observed that my style in largely in line with the recommendations that Elliot offers.
As is the case with almost all writers, I desire to be unique. I express this desire through my work. However, after reading Elliot’s essay, I gained an understanding of the damage that can result when one becomes obsessed with the need to be unique. Elliot encourages writers to create works that reflect the long and rich tradition of their ancestors (Elliot, 2009). One of the techniques that I have adopted in my writing is borrowing from earlier works. Nearly none of my works are original. I feel that there is usually a wealth of knowledge that I can build on instead of wasting effort building a piece from the ground up. I think that Elliot’s essay was truly inspired as it reflects my own writing style.
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In addition to challenging writers to embrace tradition, Elliot also calls on them to ensure that their personality is not reflected in their work. He suggests that writers are mere carriers of insights (Elliot, 2009). Upon reading this, I was shocked that Elliot actually expects writers to avoid personal involvement in their work. I think that writing is a very personal endeavor. However, I still agree with Elliot as I have adopted his suggestion. As noted above, I use existing work to create my own. As I create my work, I try to remain sober and unbiased. I strive to present issues for what they are and not what they appear from my perspective. I think that objectivity is at the heart of balanced and rich writing. I would strongly encourage other writers to adopt the recommendations that Elliot offers in his essay. They need to ensure that their work reflects their tradition and that they remain objective and unbiased.
Reference
Elliot, T. S. (2009). Tradition and the Individual Talent. Retrieved 9th November 2017 From https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69400/tradition-and-the-individual-talent
