This is perhaps the most famous poem written by ezra pound. In a station of the metro is a poem by american writer ezra pound, originally published in 19. Jan 06, 2018 ezra pound in a station of the metro poem analysis duration. Dec 06, 2016 ezra pound was a rebel and wanted to do things his way in regard to poetry and so he did. The second sentence depicts a view of a nature, that happens after a rain. Apr 01, 2017 in a station of the metro is an imagist poem by ezra pound published in 19. More ezra pound sign up for poemaday receive a new poem in your inbox daily. Ezra pounds in a station of the metro before this week, i had never read any poetry by ezra pound.
In a station of the metro by ezra pound the sunday times. How successful is pound at planting a particular image in your mind when you read this poem. The poem in a station of the metro by ezra pound is presented. In a station of the metro by ezra pound the difficult. Apr 12, 2011 ezra pounds poem in a station of the metro is only two lines, making it hard to decipher what exactly is going on. In 1916, pound wrote about the process of writing the poem pound, gaudierbrzeska, 1916. In a station of the metro by ezra pound about this poet ezra pound is widely considered one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
Ezra pounds in a station of the metro 603 words 123. A video interpretation of ezra pounds poem, in a station of the metro. Pounds use of living metaphors adds to the fleeting tone of this poem. In a station of the metro by ezra pound poetry magazine.
A letter, in a station of the metro, william carlos williams, the red wheelbarrow, the great figure, this is just to say, poem, h. Principles of imagism, imagism, ezra pound, a few donts by an imagiste, the rivermerchants wife. Complete summary of ezra pound s in a station of the metro. In a station of the metro poem summary and analysis. Flowers and trees, like human beings on a metro, are constantly moving, growing, and changing. Pounds twoline poem is a famous example of imagism, a poetic form spearheaded by pound that focuses above all on relating clear images. To find out more about ezra pound, visit the lesson on his poem, in a station of the metro. See the bibliography bk3 for notes about what this poem has to do with japan, bk4 and bk12 for pounds own explanation of the matter, and ezra pound and the invention of japan for a critical overview of pounds japanese interests among more than 100 titles by pound that are in print are several that contain work related to his japanese interests. There, you can accomplish the following objectives. The poem displays precise technical execution, like a finely tuned machine. Although it does moderately follow the rules of the japanese style of a haiku.
What are the major themes of in a station of the metro. There heros wits are kept in pondrous vases, and beaus in snuffboxes and tweezercases. In a station of the metro 19 the apparition of these faces in the crowd. Earl miner has spoken of it in terms of discordia concors in j. This episode later appeared as the first part of pounds huge work, the cantos. Ezra pounds in a station of the metro is a poem that capitalizes on the tension between similarity and polarity as extremely as ever a couplet has. In a station of the metro by ezra pound by rebecca published october 20, 2012 updated january 2, 2014 in a station of the metro. Download this entire guide to in a station of the metro as a printable pdf. Jan 24, 2012 ezra pounds in a station of the metro has to be one of the most thoughtprovoking poems i have ever read. I noticed immediately that many of the poems are very short. In a station of the metro, for example, is two lines.
What are the major themes of in a station of the metro by. To appreciate this poem, it is helpful to understand the background that led to its very succinct formation. Apr 04, 2017 two illustrations inspired by the american poet ezra pounds famous and famously short poem, in a station of the metro, first published in 19. Pound first campaigned for imagistic, his name for a new kind of poetry. In a station of the metro the apparition of these faces in the crowd. In a station of the metro is an imagist poem by ezra pound published in 19. Featuring a piano instrumental of muses ruled by secrecy. In this analysis, i want to focus mostly on the technical execution of. Despite the wealth of scholarship devoted to this poem, however, pound s source for his interest in. These words from line two evokes a really concrete, visual image.
The first sentence describes a sence of the morden life, that happens in a station of the metro, it is very common as a single sentence. Ezra pound is generally considered the poet most responsible for defining and promoting a modernist aesthetic in poetry. Brief biography on ezra pound imagist movement technical. However, instead of giving each musical phrase in the. In a station of the metro by ezra pound is short two lined poem that could potentially have a variety of interpretations. In a station of the metro and how it is a prime example of imagist poetry table of contents. Ezra pound s in a station of the metro before this week, i had never read any poetry by ezra pound.
Alexanders eng 250 class fall 2015 in a station of the metro lyrics. Two illustrations inspired by the american poet ezra pounds famous and famously short poem, in a station of the metro, first published in 19. Its structure does not follow the rules of iambic pentameter or of a sonnet. Why did ezra pound reduce in a station of the metro from. I ask them to picture the last time they stood in a metro station and think about the experience in terms of. American culture, technology, anonymityisolationpublic privacy. Ezra pounds in a station of the metro has to be one of the most thoughtprovoking poems i have ever read.
In a station of the metro is an imagist poem by ezra pound published in 19 in the literary magazine poetry. Despite being a very short poem, ezra pounds in a station of the metro explores a number of major themes. Publication date 19401 publisher poetry collection. Why does it matter that the poem uses metaphor saying that one thing is another instead of simile saying that one thing is like another to compare the faces to flowers on a tree branch this is the kind of poem that makes people throw up their hands and say, well, geez, i could write that. In a station of the metro by ezra pound the difficult forms. Contributor jstor language english volume 2 in a station of the metro is an article from poetry, volume 2. Rather than describing something an object or situation and then generalizing about it, imagist poets.
Ezra pounds in a station of the metro general information. The second sentence depicts a view of a nature, that happens. Ezra pound was a rebel and wanted to do things his way in regard to poetry and so he did. He wanted to make the poem more concise and direct. Analysis of in a station of the metro by ezra pound. Despite being a very short poem, ezra pound s in a station of the metro explores a number of major themes. Essay on in a station of the metro by ezra pound 637. In a station of the metro by ezra pound excellence in. Throughout the history of english poetry, there seldom is a poem like ezra pounds in a station of the metro hereafter referred to as metro poem that has been endlessly researched by scholars, literary critics, and poets alike 1. In a station of the metro by ezra pound the apparition of these faces in the crowd. Pound s use of living metaphors adds to the fleeting tone of this poem.
Pdf the japanese sources of ezra pounds in a station. Pound could have used the word appearance in the first line. Topics discussed include pounds relationship to the imagist poetry movement, the depiction of the matro, or subway, located in paris, france in the poem, and the rhythm of the poem. After making hundreds of broadcasts for the italian facist regime, he was tried for treason, judged insane, and held in a mental hospital for over ten years. In the foot notes, pound mentions that he wrote the poem as a response to an experience he had in the paris metro where he saw suddenly a beautiful face, and then another and another, and then a beautiful childs face, and then another beautiful woman. To make us visualize this apparition, pound employs sensory terms that relate to nature. Pound connects images of petals and boughs to a mass of humanity linking a manmade metropolitan scene with the cycles of nature. What is the effect of using the word apparition instead. Ezra pound in a station of the metro poem analysis duration. Earl miner has spoken of it in terms of discordia concorsin j. Pound, ezra collected classic poems, pope to sterling.
Ezra pounds poem in a station of the metro is the quintessential example of an early twentiethcentury literary movement known as imagism. Sullivans ezra pound 235, others of an interrelationship of subjectiveobjective imagery, and many have struggled for. I think the secert of the poem lies in the connection between the two sentence. Complete summary of ezra pounds in a station of the metro. Ezra pounds poem in a station of the metro is only two lines, making it hard to decipher what exactly is going on. In the foot notes, pound mentions that he wrote the poem as a response to an experience he had in the paris metro where he saw suddenly a beautiful face, and then another and another, and then a beautiful childs face. A very short poem two lines by ezra pound describing the experience of metro travel. Pound s anger and resentment of capitalism and the british government was forged by the bloodshed of. It is better to present one image in a lifetime than to produce voluminous works. In a station of the metro poem by ezra pound poem hunter. This contrasts to the abstract metaphor of line one. Does the poem provide any clues as to how pound feels about modern life and technology. Ezra pounds in a station of the metro uses a variety of literary techniques to express the poems meaning, an important focus being the fast paced rhythm, which guides the reader through the poem.
An american poet and critic of the early modernist movement imagery is the use of figurative or descriptive language that can help the reader better. Pound wrote it after having a spiritual experience in a paris metro subway station. He was an early champion of a number of avantgarde and modernist poets. I have no experience with chinese and japanese brush painting, and it is known as a technique that takes at least a whole lifetime to perfect, but its the idea that. Oct 20, 2012 in a station of the metro by ezra pound the apparition of these faces in the crowd. In the introduction of the norton anthology of american literature volume d, it states. Ezra pound s in a station of the metro, which he described as a hokku, is one of the most famous englishlanguage poems of the twentieth century. A criticism is presented for the poem in a station of the metro by the poet ezra pound. Apr 27, 2010 a video interpretation of ezra pound s poem, in a station of the metro. Enter a library name or part of a name, city, state, or province. But the elements are difficult to see at first, hidden behind a superficially simple structure. Why did ezra pound reduce in a station of the metro from 30 lines to two. Ezra pound, in a station of the metro haiku terebess.
Ezra pound, in a station of the metro haiku terebess asia. Ezra pound is widely considered one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. There broken vows and deathbed alms are found, and lovers hearts with ends of riband bound, the courtiers promises, and sick mans prayrs, the smiles of harlots, and the tears of heirs, cages for gnats, and chains to yoke a flea, dryd butterflies, and tomes of. Pound drew inspiration from japanese poetry throughout his career, and in a station of the metro is an excellent example of that influence.
Ezra pounds in a station of the metro 603 words 123 help me. In a station of the metro from lustra ezra pound pound, ezra 18851972 controversial american poet, editor, and critic who had a major influence on 20th century literature. In the poem, pound describes a moment in the underground metro station in paris in 1912. In the essay imagism, the second rule of imagistes is said to be to use. In a station of the metro predates all of this, however it was published in 19 in a literary magazine, and was written based on an emotion pound had felt during a moment standing in a paris underground metro station in the previous year. Ezra pounds in a station of the metro general education.