ENGL 310: Modern Poetry

Lecture 9 - Ezra Pound << previous session | next session >>

Overview:

The lecture introduces the poetry of Ezra Pound. Tensions in Pound's personality and career are considered, particularly in terms of his relationships with other poets and his fascism and anti-capitalism. The poem "The Seafarer" is examined as a quintessentially Poundian project in its treatment and translation of poetic forms. The first Canto of his epic project, The Cantos, is analyzed as a meditation on the process of expressing and engaging with history and literary tradition.  

Reading assignment:

Ezra Pound: "A Pact," "The Rest," "Hugh Selwyn Mauberley," Canto I-II, "Sestina: Altaforte," "The Seafarer"

Class lecture:

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Resources:

Handout 7: Ezra Pound [text]
Paper 1: Topics and Preparation [text]