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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Ezra Pound's Canto LXXXI: The scientists are in terror" is a section of "The Cantos," a long and complex poem that Pound worked on for several decades. The canto was written in 1946, towards the end of Pound's career, and reflects his growing disillusionment with the modern world. The canto begins with the speaker describing the state of the world in the aftermath of World War II, noting how the scientists who had helped to develop the atomic bomb were now "in terror" of the destructive power they had unleashed. The speaker reflects on the destructive nature of technology and notes how it has been used to perpetrate violence and destruction throughout human history. As the canto progresses, the speaker reflects on the role of poetry in the modern world. He notes how poetry has been marginalized and undervalued in the face of technological progress, and suggests that it is only through poetry that we can fully understand and appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world. The canto ends with a reference to the Greek god Apollo, who was associated with poetry and the arts. The speaker suggests that it is only through a renewed appreciation of the arts and humanities that we can hope to build a better and more just society. Overall, "Ezra Pound's Canto LXXXI: The scientists are in terror" is a powerful and complex work of modernist poetry that reflects Pound's growing disillusionment with the modern world. The canto explores the themes of technology, violence, and the role of the arts in society, and encourages readers to reflect on the ways in which poetry can help us to understand and navigate the complexities of the world around us. Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WRITTEN DURING DEPRESSION: HOW TO BE HAPPY by MARVIN BELL THE SONG OF THE DEMENTED PRIEST by JOHN BERRYMAN IN BACK OF THE REAL by ALLEN GINSBERG A MUSICIAN'S WIFE by WELDON KEES HEARD IN A VIOLENT WARD by THEODORE ROETHKE NOON WALK ON THE ASYLUM LAWN by ANNE SEXTON |
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