'E .P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre' by Ezra Pound
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I
For three years, out of key with his time,
He strove to resuscitate the dead art
Of poetry; to maintain "the sublime"
In the old sense. Wrong from the start--
No, hardly, but seeing he had been born
In a half savage country, out of date;
Bent resolutely on wringing lilies from the acorn;
Capaneus; trout for factitious bait;
Idmen gar toi panth, hos eni troie
Caught in the unstopped ear;
Giving the rocks small lee-way
The chopped seas held him, therefore, that year.
His true Penelope was Flaubert,
He fished by obstinate isles;
Observed the elegance of Circe's hair
Rather than the mottoes on sun-dials.
Unaffected by "the march of events,"
He passed from men's memory in l'an trentuniesme
de son eage;the case presents
No adjunct to the Muses' diadem.
II
The age demanded an image
Of its accelerated grimace,
Something for the modern stage
Not, at any rate, an Attic grace;
Not, certainly, the obscure reveries
Of the inward gaze;
Better mendacities
Than the classics in paraphrase!
The "age demanded" chiefly a mould in plaster,
Made with no loss of time,
A prose kinema, not, not assuredly, alabaster
Or the "sculpture" of rhyme.
III
The tea-rose tea-gown, etc.
Supplants the mousseline of Cos,
The pianola "replaces"
Sappho's barbitos.
Christ follows Dionysus,
Phallic and ambrosial
Made way for macerations;
Caliban casts out Ariel.
All things are a flowing
Sage Heracleitus say;
But a tawdry cheapness
Shall outlast our days.
Even the Christian beauty
Defects--after Samothrace;
We see to kalon
Decreed in the market place.
Faun's flesh is not to us,
Nor the saint's vision.
We have the press for wafer;
Franchise for circumcision.
All men, in law, are equals.
Free of Pisistratus,
We choose a knave or an eunuch
To rule over us.
O bright Apollo,
Tin andra, tin heroa, tina theon,
What god, man or hero
Shall I place a tin wreath upon!
IV
These fought in any case,
And some believing,
pro domo, in any case...
Some quick to arm,
some for adventure,
some from fear of weakness,
some from fear of censure,
some for love of slaughter, in imagination,
learning later...
some in fear, learning love of slaughter;
Died some, pro patria,
non "dulce" not "et decor"...
walked eye-deep in hell
believing old men's lies, then unbelieving
came home, home to a lie,
home to many deceits,
home to old lies and new infamy;
usury age-old and age-thick
and liars in public places.
Daring as never before, wastage as never before.
Young blood and high blood,
fair cheeks, and fine bodies;
fortitude as never before
frankness as never before,
disillusions as never told in the old days,
hysterias, trench confessions,
laughter out of dead bellies.
V
There died a myriad,
And of the best, among them,
For an old bitch gone in the teeth,
For a botched civilization,
Charm, smiling at the good mouth,
Quick eyes gone under earth's lid,
For two gross of broken statues,
For a few thousand battered books.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre: A Poetic Masterpiece by Ezra Pound
When it comes to literary masterpieces, Ezra Pound's "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" is a work that deserves a place of honor. This poem, written in the early 1910s, is a remarkable achievement that showcases Pound's exceptional skills as a poet.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the depths of this magnificent work of literature. We'll delve into its themes, symbolism, form, and language, and uncover the many layers of meaning that are hidden within its lines.
Background and Context
Before we get started with the analysis, let's take a moment to provide some background and context for this poem. "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" was written during a time when Ezra Pound was living in Paris, and it was included in his collection of poems titled "Lustra," which was published in 1916.
The poem was written in response to a challenge that Pound received from his friend, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, to write an ode in the style of John Keats. Keats was one of Pound's favorite poets, and this challenge was a way for Pound to pay homage to him while also showcasing his own poetic abilities.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's mortality and legacy. The first section focuses on the speaker's death and burial, the second on his reputation and influence, and the third on the nature of art and its enduring power.
Now that we have some context, let's dive into the analysis.
Themes
One of the primary themes that runs throughout this poem is the idea of legacy and how one's life and achievements will be remembered after they're gone. The speaker is acutely aware of his own mortality and is grappling with the idea of what kind of impact he will leave on the world.
This theme is particularly evident in the second section of the poem, where the speaker reflects on his reputation and influence. He acknowledges that his life has been full of contradictions and that he has been both praised and criticized for his work. However, he ultimately comes to the conclusion that his legacy will endure and that his contributions to the world of art will be remembered long after he's gone.
Another theme that's present in this poem is the idea of art as a powerful force that can transcend time and space. The speaker believes that his poetry will live on and continue to inspire and move people long after he's gone. He sees art as a way to connect with others and to leave a lasting impression on the world.
This theme is particularly evident in the third section of the poem, where the speaker reflects on the nature of art and its enduring power. He believes that art is a window into the human soul and that it has the power to transform and uplift those who experience it.
Symbolism
There are a number of symbols and images that appear throughout this poem, each of which adds to the overall sense of depth and complexity. One of the most prominent symbols is the speaker's tomb, which represents his legacy and the impact that he will leave on the world.
The tomb is described in vivid detail, with the speaker imagining it as a grand and imposing structure that will stand the test of time. He sees his tomb as a physical manifestation of his legacy, and he hopes that it will inspire others to greatness and serve as a reminder of his contributions to the world.
Another symbol that's present in this poem is the idea of the poet as a prophet or seer. The speaker sees himself as someone who has been given a special gift, and he believes that his poetry will serve as a guide for future generations. He sees himself as a visionary who is able to see beyond the surface level of things and into the deeper mysteries of life.
Form and Language
One of the things that makes "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" such an impressive work of literature is its complex and intricate form. The poem is written in a highly stylized and structured form that's reminiscent of the odes of John Keats.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which is made up of multiple stanzas. The stanzas are written in a variety of different forms, including couplets, tercets, and quatrains, and each one is carefully crafted to create a sense of musicality and rhythm.
The language in this poem is also highly crafted and stylized, with Pound using a variety of literary devices to create a sense of depth and complexity. One of the most notable devices that he uses is alliteration, which appears throughout the poem and serves to create a sense of musicality and rhythm.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" is a masterful work of literature that showcases Ezra Pound's exceptional skills as a poet. Through its themes, symbols, form, and language, the poem explores the nature of legacy, the power of art, and the enduring nature of human creativity.
This is a poem that rewards careful reading and analysis, and it's clear that Pound put a great deal of thought and effort into crafting each and every line. Whether you're a fan of poetry or simply someone who appreciates great literature, "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" is a work that's well worth exploring in depth.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ezra Pound's "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores themes of mortality, legacy, and the role of the artist in society. Written in 1914, the poem is a complex and multi-layered work that demands close analysis and interpretation.
At its core, "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" is a meditation on the inevitability of death and the desire for immortality. The speaker of the poem imagines his own death and burial, and reflects on the legacy he will leave behind. He is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life, and the fact that all human achievements are ultimately ephemeral. However, he also believes that the artist has the power to transcend mortality through his work, and to achieve a kind of immortality through the influence he has on future generations.
The poem is structured as a series of six stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's thoughts and feelings. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker imagines his own death and burial. He describes the scene in vivid detail, from the mourners gathered around his grave to the sound of the earth being piled on top of his coffin. However, he also expresses a sense of detachment from the scene, as if he is observing it from a distance. This detachment is a recurring theme throughout the poem, as the speaker struggles to come to terms with his own mortality.
In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the transience of human life and the futility of all human endeavors. He compares the achievements of great men throughout history to the fleeting beauty of a flower that blooms and then withers away. He acknowledges that even the greatest works of art will eventually be forgotten, and that all human achievements are ultimately meaningless in the face of death.
However, the speaker also believes that the artist has the power to transcend mortality through his work. In the third stanza, he describes the role of the artist in society, and the importance of creating works that will endure beyond the artist's own lifetime. He believes that the artist has a responsibility to create something that will inspire future generations, and that this is the only way to achieve a kind of immortality.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic and difficult to interpret. The speaker describes a vision of a "great city" that is both beautiful and terrifying. He sees "a thousand streets to the sun," but also "a thousand alleys where the shadow falls." The city seems to represent both the potential for greatness and the inevitability of decay and destruction. The speaker seems to be suggesting that the artist must navigate this complex and often contradictory landscape in order to create something that will endure.
In the fifth stanza, the speaker returns to the theme of his own mortality, and reflects on the legacy he will leave behind. He imagines future generations discovering his work and being inspired by it, and he takes comfort in the fact that his influence will live on long after he is gone. However, he also acknowledges that his work may be misunderstood or forgotten, and that he may ultimately be consigned to obscurity.
The final stanza of the poem is a kind of epilogue, in which the speaker addresses his own tombstone. He imagines future generations visiting his grave and reading the inscription, and he expresses the hope that his work will continue to inspire and influence people long after he is gone. He ends the poem with a powerful image of the sun rising over his tombstone, suggesting that even in death, there is the potential for renewal and rebirth.
Overall, "Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre" is a complex and challenging work that rewards close reading and interpretation. It explores themes of mortality, legacy, and the role of the artist in society, and it does so with a powerful and evocative language that is typical of Pound's modernist style. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of art, and a reminder that even in the face of death, there is the potential for beauty and transcendence.
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