Prufrock and Other Observations (1917) - Preludes Summary

Section I: The first part of this poem delights the senses. There is the smell of food cooking, the sound of the rain, and the brightness of lamps, related to the reader. The narrator takes us on a walk through city streets at suppertime. It is a view of a day winding down and the effect the elements have on the mood.

Section II: The second part of this poem muses about the mass of humanity that trudges to their daily toil each morning. The narrator alludes to the fact that time rolls on, even though we spend our time in activities to draw our attention away from that fact.

Section III: The narrator assumes a more personal tone in this section. He lies beside his wife at night and ponders her as...