1. Ezra Pound & Imagism

2. Contributions to Modernist Poetry
More than any other writer, he was responsible for dramatic changes occurring with poetry.
Urged writers to “make it new”
Influenced other writers to discard traditional forms, techniques, and ideas
Experimented with new approaches
His movement was called IMAGISM

3. Imagism Poetry written that evokes pictures or images for the reader
Direct presentation of images, or word pictures
Word choice is specific
Adjectives are used to enhance the specificity of word choice, BUT they are not over-used.
Attempt to freeze a single moment in time and capture the emotions of that moment
Imagist poetry often reflect influences of haiku or tanka

4. Haiku Consists of 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables Example:
Leaving behind love
Struggling for the future
Life begins today

5. Tanka Consists of 5 lines of 5, 7, 5, 7 and 7 syllables Example:
Black, wet, runny nose
Her paws beating the pavement
Racing down the street
Happiness engulfs her spirit
The best trainer in the world

6. Pound’s Work
His poetry reflects a deep interest in the past, particularly of ancient cultures
Chinese, Japanese, and Provencal French
Poems are filled with literary and historical allusions
His poems are difficult to understand because they are void of explanations and generalizations
Wrote The Cantos, long poetic sequence where he expressed his beliefs (eventually totaling 116 cantos)

7. Allusion
An allusion is a reference to something well known (ie: piece of art, literature, historical event)

8. The Controversial Pound
During WW2, Pound lived in Italy and was a supporter of the dictator, Benito Mussolini
Pound believed a country ruled by a dictator was the best environment for the creation of art---INTERESTING????

9. In 1945, Pound was charged by the American government for treason
A year later he was arrested by American troops and imprisoned
He was flown back to US and found to be psychologically unfit to stand trial and was confined to a hospital for the criminally insane

10. Remained in the hospital until 1958, when he was released
Returned to Italy until death

11. In the Station of the Metro

12. The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter
Illustrates influence of Chinese culture on Pound’s writing
Feelings evoked from arranged marriages
Some Chinese believe leaving important matter of choosing a mate to a young person is unwise and reckless
Love, they feel, comes after marriage not before

13. William Carlos Williams
The Red Wheelbarrow