Ezra Pound and Imagism

-was born in Hailey, Idaho in 1885.

-University of Pennsylvania
-Hamilton College(1905)
-after teaching in Wabash College
he travelled abroad to Spain, Italy,
and London where he became
interested in Chinese and Japanese
poetry
-married Dorothy Shakespear(1914)
-he moved to Italy(1924)
-was a supporter of the dictator, Benito Mussolini
-he was arrested for treason for broadcasting a Fascist propaganda
by radio to US(1945)
-St. Elizabeths Hospital
-the Bollingen-Library of Congress Award awarded him the prize for Pisan
Cantos(1948)
-with the help of his friends, he won his release
-released in 1958, then he returned to Italy and settled in Venice until death
Contributions and works of Ezra
Pound
modernistic aesthetic in poetry
urged writers to make it new, and discard traditional
forms, techniques, and ideas
enforced IMAGISM
his poetry reflects a deep interest of the past,
particularly of ancient culture
filled with literary and historical allusions
Wrote The Cantos, long poetic sequence where he
expressed his beliefs (eventually totaling 116 cantos)
Allusion

An allusion is a reference to something well known

(ie: piece of art, literature, historical event)
Imagism

Derived from classical Chinese and Japanese poetry

Stresses clarity, precision, and the economy of
language
Evokes images or pictures for the readers, through
direct presentations of images, or word pictures
Specific word-use
In a Station in Metro

The apparition of these faces in the

crowd:
Petals on a wet black bough.
Analysis

Reflects his talent, especially on images

Short, and straightforward to the point.
First line: Apparition.
Second line: Petals
In a Station in Metro

The apparition of these faces in the crowd:

Petals on a wet black bough.