Background

T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets is a four-part poem published between 1936 and 1942, often considered the quintessential work of late modernism. In each of its movements, the poem’s beauty and complexity explores mature meditations on mortality, time, eternity, and redemption. Geographical locations ground each piece, even while they soar through timelessness, presenting vivid images, memorable lines, and technical experimentation along the way.

In 2013, several thoughtful creators came together to revisit Eliot’s masterpiece anew. Painters Bruce Herman and Makoto Fujimura, composer Christopher Theofanidis, and theologian/musician Jeremy Begbie responded to Four Quartets with original works, then a tour and exhibition, from inside the same faith tradition as the poet, exploring how faith in Christ can continue to inform art, music, and poetry today.

Course Description

Wyrdhoard presents artist Bruce Herman & scholar Sørina Higgins in conversation about T. S. Eliot, art, poetry, & faith. Each session will include a close reading of one of the “movements” of Eliot’s Four Quartets interspersed with reflections on Herman’s QU4RTETS paintings. Students will be invited to engage in conversations about the intersections of creativity, literature, and belief.

Schedule

Class will meet over Zoom on four Mondays in March 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00pm eastern (U.S.). Recordings will be available for registrants, and participants agree to the recording of their audio, video, and chat comments for possible future distribution in a coursepack of the class.

Synchronous Class Meetings

Class 1—Monday, March 9th
Quartet No. 1: Burnt Norton
QU4RTETS No.1 (Spring)

Class 2—Monday, March 16th
Quartet No. 2: East Coker
QU4RTETS No.2 (Summer)

Class 3—Monday, March 23rd
Quartet No. 3: The Dry Salvages
QU4RTETS No.3 (Autumn)

Class 4—Monday, March 30th
Quartet No. 4: Little Gidding
QU4RTETS No.4 (Winter)

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