Instigations Together with An Essay on the Chinese Written Character

"Instigations" by Ezra Pound is a compilation of essays and critiques centered on French poetry from the early 1900s. Pound examines the impact of numerous French poets, breaking down their writing approaches, methods, and cultural importance. It acts as a space for Pound's thoughts on how important language and culture are to understanding foreign literature, highlighting the need to distinguish great poetry from average work. At the book's beginning, Pound ponders the shortcomings of only knowing one language in American intellectual circles, sharing his annoyance at the lack of real interest in French literature. He shares his plan to show readers important French poets, like Jules Laforgue and Tristan Corbière, giving assessments of their pieces. Through his insights, he analyzes different poetry styles and the effects of cultural context on poetry, setting the scene for a close look at the skill within the French literary world.