IMAGISTS

IMAGISTSImagism was a movement in early 20th-century Anglo-American poetry that favored precision of imagery and clear, sharp language.

IMAGISTSPoets presented the essence of objects, people, or incidents; without providing an explanation.

Poets carefully chose each word.

IMAGISTSJapanese and Chinese poets influenced American poets.

Many Imagist poems are similar to the haiku form of poetry.

IMAGISTS Short-lived; 1914-1918,

During WWI

IMAGISTSe.e.cummingsEzra PoundAmy LowellWilliam Carlos Williams

E.E.CUMMINGS

1894-1962Edward Estlin CummingsAmerican poet, painter, author and playwright

2,900 poems

E.E.CUMMINGS

One of the most popular 20th century poets.

Themes: love and nature

Known for syntax.

E.E.CUMMINGS

Influenced by other Imagist poets – Pound and Lowell

Also influenced by surrealist painters

HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=HNNQGN4DXJO&NR=1

i carry your heart

"Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense." - e.e. cummings

AMY LOWELL

1874-1925Won Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1926.

Her brother was the president of Harvard.

AMY LOWELL

Lowell was not allowed to go to college because her family did not think that was proper behavior for a female.

AMY LOWELL

One of the first to use “free verse”

Smoked cigarsHad a weight problemPound called her the”hippopoetess”

WILLIAM CARLOS

WILLIAMS1883-1963A pediatrician and a poet!

A child of immigrants, he spoke Spanish, French, and British English.

WILLIAM CARLOS

WILLIAMSWon the Pulitzer Prize in 1963.

WILLIAM CARLOS

WILLIAMSFocused on capturing the essence of modern American life by depicting ordinary people, objects, and experiences using everyday language.

THIS IS JUST TO SAYBY WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast.

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold.

1. What is the intention of the speaker?

2. Why is the incident in this poem important to the speaker?

3. How do lines 10–12 reveal its importance?

4. How would you describe the philosophy of life suggested by this poem?

EZRA POUND

1885-1972Inspired dramatic changes

Insisted that writers “make it new”

EZRA POUND

Contains fourteen wordsNot one is a verbeconomy of language, precision of imagery experimenting with non-traditional verse forms.