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Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound. 1885 - 1972. Biographical Info. Born in Idaho but grew up in Pennsylvania Taught at a conservative religious college but led an unconventional lifestyle that didn’t “mesh” with his surroudings Settled in London in 1908 and became a self-appointed spokesman for imagism

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Ezra Pound

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  1. Ezra Pound 1885 - 1972

  2. Biographical Info • Born in Idaho but grew up in Pennsylvania • Taught at a conservative religious college but led an unconventional lifestyle that didn’t “mesh” with his surroudings • Settled in London in 1908 and became a self-appointed spokesman for imagism • Became a critic of American life • Moved to Paris in 1921, then to Italy in 1924 • Supported Benito Mussolini, a Fascist dictator • Fascism – one-party dictatorship; forcible suppression of opposition; belligerent nationalism, racism, militarism

  3. Bio cont. • Stayed in Italy after WW II broke out • Denounced struggles of US and its allies against Germany, Italy, and Japan in radio broadcasts; broadcasts were anti-Semitic • Taken prisoner by the American army in 1945 • Returned to US to be tried for treason • Determined to be mentally incompetent to stand trial • Committed to St. Elizabeth’s, a hospital for the criminally insane in Washington, D.C., in 1946 • Released in 1958 • Returned to Italy, where he died (in Venice)

  4. “The River Merchant’s Wife: A Letter”

  5. Stanza 1 • River-merchant and his wife when they were children • Playing by the gate—she with flowers; he on stilts • Stanza 2 • An arranged marriage when the speaker was only 14 • She respects her husband; however, she is bashful • Stanza 3 • She learns to love him, so much so that she has no desire to be with anyone else after he dies • Stanza 4 • He leaves, probably to go to work, and is gone for 5 months • She is sad • Stanza 5 • He did not want to leave • Time has gone on, but she remains saddened by things in nature • She will rush to meet him if she knows he is coming home.

  6. “The Garden” • Dying piecemeal – bit by bit • Anemia – lack of vigor; lifelessness • Rabble – loud, noisy mob So…what is this poem about?

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