Allen Ginsberg. T.S. Eliot. These two men couldn't be more perfect examples of twentieth century poetry. Their poetry differs due to the transition from the first half of the twentieth century, exemplified by T.S. Eliot, to the second half portrayed by Allen Ginsberg. Both poets had their own style and diction, which gave their poetry a special quality all its own. Eliot and Ginsberg are quite different in many ways, representative of some of the changes in poetry between the two halves of the twentieth century.
             When the evening is spread out against the sky
             Like a patient etherised upon a table; (lines 1-3)
             In merely the first few lines of T.S. Eliot's poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, there is clear evidence of rhythm. Eliot follows many different rhyme patterns and beats per line. Occasionally he will have seven syllables per line, whereas in the next line he may jump to thirteen. However, the poem retains its rhythm, and its lively character, shown by lines fifteen and sixteen: The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes,..." The rhyme scheme differs, however, throughout the poem. From AABCCDDEEFF in the beginning of the poem, to ABBCDEDEC near the end. Eliot differs in the number of lines per stanza as well. The first stanza of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock contains twelve lines, and the last two stanzas each contain three lines. Eliot's poem still maintains its rhythm as well as its lively beat whether the stanzas are long or short. Perhaps Eliot's writing style is a function of the time, but equally important was his upbringing.
             T.S. Eliot was influenced in a scholarly manner his entire life. Eliot's parents were well off, and he attended the finest schools, eventually attending Harvard. He received his degrees rather quickly and moved to England where he would gain residency, and live for the rest of his life. Soo...