8. Imagism

Modern Poetry (ENGL 310) with Langdon Hammer

The Imagist school is defined, in part through the prose of Ezra Pound. Representative examples of Imagist poetry are examined, particularly Hilda Doolittle's "Garden," "Sea Rose," and "Oread." Pound's early poem, "In a Station of the Metro," and Pound's comment on the poem's composition are studied as Imagist statements. His work with foreign languages, particularly Chinese, is considered in relation to Imagism in the poems "Jewel Stairs' Grievance" and "River Merchant's Wife: A Letter."

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction: Hilda Doolittle
08:23 - Chapter 2. What Was Imagism?
18:58 - Chapter 3. Hilda Doolittle Poems: "Garden" and "Sea Rose"
25:33 - Chapter 4. Hilda Doolittle Poem: "Oread"
32:29 - Chapter 5. Ezra Pound Poem: "In a Station of the Metro"
40:48 - Chapter 6. Li Po Poem Translation by Ezra Pound: "Jewel Stairs' Grievance"
43:09 - Chapter 7. Li Po Poem Translation by Ezra Pound: "River Merchant's Wife: A Letter"

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://oyc.yale.edu

This course was recorded in Spring 2007.