Prufrock

Something that I found interesting in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is the third stanza in which we see the introduction of a "yellow fog." The use of personification is really intriguing. Elliot states that the yellow fog "rubs its back upon the window panes" and "rubs its muzzle on the window panes" and "licked its tongue and let fall upon its back" and finally "curled once about the house and fell asleep." The characterization of the yellow fog as a living being (as a feline creature most specifically) is extremely unique and absolutely catches the attention of the reader. The mention of a moving fog is spooky and could be said to add to the eerie nature of these beginning stanzas- there is mention of fog, evening, soot, and chimneys, October nights, and a general haziness. The tone that is set by this stanza prepares the reader for the rest of the poem quite well.