Question

In order to get some perspective on the theme of this poem, you need to understand a bit about William Carlos Williams and the time in which he lived. Conduct a Web search on Williams and write about 150 words on his life and work. Many of the poets that influence his time were expatriates, though Williams was born and died in his home country. Discuss how not being an expatriate influenced Williams’ poetry.

Answer 1

Answer: Williams made a large contribution to the American modernist movement. He refused to become an expatriate, and did not leave America. His patriotic feelings are seen in his work.

Step-by-step explanation:

William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963) was an American poet and a physician. His father was of English origin, while his mother was partially Puerto Rican and partially French. It is because of these mixed family roots that he wanted to truly belong to America.

Throughout his career, Williams refused to become an expatriate. In their letters, T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, his rivals at the time, suggested him to move to another country, but he never followed their advice. Although he mainly focused on poetry, Williams wrote a book about the American history and culture which was published in 1925 - "In the American Grain." His famous poems include "The Red Wheelbarrow", "Paterson", "Spring and All", "Raleigh Was Right", etc. He died on March 4, 1963, leaving a huge legacy behind.