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Description
The programme opens with an account of Pound's earlier career, based on photographs and paintings, up to the time he left England shortly after the 1914-18 war. His interest in Latin and Chinese po...etry is touched on. Then follows an interview with Basil Bunting, conducted by Alasdair Clayre. Bunting first met Pound in 1922, and knew him well from 1929 onwards. Bunting discusses Pound's place among poets writing in English during this century, comparing it to Spenser's in the sixteenth century. He goes on to describe Pound's different styles for reading poetry, and himself reads and talks about three, of his poems. The programme ends by relating Bunting's comments to some film sequences of Pound shot at the home of his son-in-law in Austria in 1954 in which Pound talks about his interest in Chinese poetry and the Chinese language and his theories of education. He also quotas the famous Usura lines from Canto XLV: "With Usera hath no man..."
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: A306, Twentieth century poetry
Item code: A306; 04
First transmission date: 20-03-1976
Published: 1976
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:23:06
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Producer: Alasdair Clayre
Contributors: Alasdair Clayre; Peter Newington; Nancy Thomas
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Language
Subject terms: Chinese poetry; Poetry; Bunting, Basil; Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972
Footage description: The programme opens with lines from Ezra Pound's poem Homage to Sextus Propertius VI over some footage of Pound in old age. Alasdair Clayre briefly describes Pound's early life. He makes particular reference to the influence of W.B. Yeats on Pound, and to Pound's relationships with Wyndham Lewis and T.S. Eliot. Shots of portraits of Pound and Eliot by Wyndham Lewis. Clayre interviews Pound's old friend Basil Bunting, who explains the significance of Pound among 20th century poets. He reads one of Pound's stanzas from Alba. Footage of Pound, over which he reads some of his own lines from Canto XLV. Bunting explains how Pound's reading style was derived from Yeats. Bunting explains Pound's interest in Propertius illustrating his point with a reading from the poem. He comments on the classical content of Pound's work. Bunting describes how he first met Pound, and how Pound gave him practical help with his poetry. Bunting talks about Pound's ideas on Chinese poetry. To illustrate this Chinese influence on Pound he reads from Lament of the Frontier Guard. Bunting explains why Pound was interested in Chinese poetry. He outlines the ideas of Ernest Fenollosa, who greatly influenced Pound. Film of Pound himself explaining the poetic qualities of characters in the Chinese language. In voice over Clayre explains Pound's interest in Confucius. Pound reads a passage from Ta Hio, The Great Digest. Clayre explains Pound's wider views on literature and reading. Film of Pound explaining why a better education is to be had from a thorough understanding of six books than a brief reading of many. Clayre concludes by reviewing Pound's importance in English Literature.
Master spool number: 6HT/71805
Production number: 00525_3226
Videofinder number: 715
Available to public: no