Student No.

: 20-01-0693
Name: Bautista, Russel Anne A. Date: April 24, 2023
Course & Section: BSE 3-1E Instructor: Benjamin Zamora

Task: Analyze the poem, "In a Station of the metro" by Ezra Pound (20 points)

The poem "In a Station of the Metro" by Ezra Pound is a short imagist poem that focuses
on capturing a moment in time and the emotional impact it has on the speaker. The poem
consists of only two lines:

"The apparition of these faces in the crowd;

Petals on a wet, black bough."

The first line sets the scene in a busy metro station, where the speaker sees many faces in the
crowd. The word "apparition" implies that the faces are fleeting and almost ghostlike in their
appearance, emphasizing the transience of the moment.
The second line uses a metaphor to describe the faces, comparing them to "petals on a wet, black
bough." This image contrasts with the modern urban setting of the station, evoking a sense of
nature and beauty.
Prescriptive criticism aims to analyze a literary work based on a set of established rules or
conventions.

The poem's non-traditional form, with only two lines and no rhyme or meter, goes against the
traditional rules of poetry. Prescriptive criticism would argue that poetry should follow established
forms and structures, and that Pound's free verse style is too unconventional to be considered true
poetry. The poem's use of imagery is too abstract and unclear. Prescriptive criticism would argue
that poetry should use concrete images that can be easily understood by the reader. The metaphor
comparing faces to petals on a wet, black bough is too unclear and not immediately accessible to
the reader. The poem's language is too simple and lacks the complexity and depth of traditional
poetry. Prescriptive criticism would argue that poetry should use elevated language and complex
syntax to convey meaning and emotion. The poem's theme is too vague and lacks a clear
message or moral lesson. Prescriptive criticism would argue that poetry should have a clear
purpose and convey a message that is meaningful and significant to the reader.

To sum up, this prescriptive criticism would argue that "In a Station of the Metro" fails to meet the
established rules and conventions of poetry, and that its non-traditional style and abstract imagery
make it too inaccessible to the reader. However, it's important to note that many readers and critics
have found great value in Pound's unconventional approach to poetry and have celebrated the
way in which his work challenged and expanded the boundaries of traditional poetry.