Question

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What effect does Ezra Pound achieve by excluding the phrase "are like" in favor of a semicolon in this poem, turning the lines into a metaphor instead of a simile?
In a Station of the Metro
The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough
A. It reflects the imagist ideal of capturing as many impressions of a subject as possible
B. It reflects the imagist ideal of contrasting ideas by using detailed descriptions.
C. It reflects the imagist ideal of separate images that overlap to present one clear idea.
D. It reflects the imagist ideal of imitating impressionism and blurring images.
E. It reflects the imagist ideal of joining separate ideas with a semicolon instead of a comma

Answer 1

Ezra Pound achieves a metaphorical effect by excluding the phrase 'are like' in favor of a semicolon in the poem, reflecting the imagist ideal of separate images overlapping to present one clear idea.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effect achieved by Ezra Pound by excluding the phrase 'are like' in favor of a semicolon in the poem 'In a Station of the Metro' is that it turns the lines into a metaphor instead of a simile. By using a semicolon, Pound creates a direct comparison between the faces in the crowd and petals on a wet, black bough without the use of a comparative phrase. This technique reflects the imagist ideal of separate images that overlap to present one clear idea. The absence of the phrase 'are like' also adds to the brevity and succinctness of the poem, embodying the imagist principle of capturing as many impressions of a subject as possible.

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