Imagist poetry, a movement that emerged in the early 20th century, is known for its emphasis on clarity, precision, and economy of language, aiming to present images in a direct and vivid manner. Let's break down each of the options in the context of Imagist principles to understand why option 3 is the correct answer:
1. The poet spreads his language across the page as though language were sensation, to reproduce the mental effect of ‘image’.
This statement aligns with Imagist principles. Imagist poets often used precise language and free verse to create vivid images and evoke sensory experiences directly, without unnecessary embellishment.
2.The image is itself an instrument of vision, or lens, as well as an expression of imagination.
This is also true of Imagist poetry. Imagists used imagery as a way to focus the reader’s vision and present their personal experience of the world, making the image both a tool for perception and an imaginative expression.
3. The imagist like a scientist learns from history and uses it, and like a scientist does not deal in emotions.
This statement is not accurate regarding Imagist poetry. While Imagists valued precision and clarity (similar to scientific methods), they did not entirely exclude emotions. Instead, they sought to present emotions through clear and direct imagery rather than through overtly emotional language. The Imagists' goal was not to avoid emotions but to depict them in a refined and precise manner.
4. The new artist as scientist focuses vision through image as against the symbol which resorts to reduction to simplicity.
This is consistent with Imagist ideals. Imagists rejected elaborate symbolism and preferred direct, clear images to convey meaning and focus the reader's vision.
Why option 3 is the correct answer:
Imagist poets did not approach their craft as scientists in a strict sense. They did not avoid emotions; rather, they aimed to present emotions and experiences with clarity and precision, focusing on concrete images rather than abstract symbols. Imagist poetry values emotion conveyed through vivid imagery, not through detachment from it.
Thus, option 3 is correct because it inaccurately represents Imagist poetry's relationship with emotions and its method of learning from and using history. Imagists did not follow a strictly scientific approach but rather used images to convey a precise and direct expression of their emotional and sensory experiences.
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