“The Hollow Men” Discussion Preparation
Notes to get you started:
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It is helpful to remember that, while the “hollow men” might be people we recognize in
our day and age, Eliot is writing in the context of the aftermath of WWI.
The hollow men seem to be in a wasteland—a no-man’s land. Tomorrow we will talk
about limbo, which is an in-between spiritual state. (In between salvation and
damnation, that is.)
The eyes in the poem relate to judgment—of others or of God or? If the hollow men can
make direct eye contact with the eyes, there may be a hope of salvation.
Think of this poem as a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. What is the conflict in
the story? How does the narration change in the course of the story? What’s the
resolution?
Questions for you:
1) Who are the hollow men? How can one be both “hollow” and “stuffed”?
2) What seems to be the central focus of each section of this poem?
3) What images, ideas, or conflicts are repeated throughout this poem? How do they
develop from section to section?
4) Note references, direct or implied, to fertility and potency (power). Note by contrast
references to infertility and impotency (lack of power).
5) Note references to action/inaction.
6) Note references to speaking, communicating, and connecting. Also, note instances of
the inability to speak, communicate, or connect.
7) What patterns or trends do you see in the poem? (For example, does the poem become
more or less hopeful? More or less organized?)
I am not collecting these, but you will get so much more out of tomorrow’s/Thursday’s discussion if
you’re prepared!