Ezra Pound was one of the most influential poets of the twentieth century. He played a key role in shaping modern poetry. Among his many famous ideas, one stands out. It is the phrase "make it new." This phrase became a slogan for modernist writers. It urged them to break from tradition. It told them to find new ways to write and to see the world.
At first glance, "make it new" sounds simple. But it carries deep meaning. It touches on art, history, culture, and human thought. Ezra Pound believed that literature should not stay still. He thought it must change with the times. He also thought writers should use the best from the past. But they had to shape it in a fresh way.
This article explains what Ezra Pound meant by this phrase. It looks at his ideas step by step. Each part shows how "make it new" helped build modern poetry.
Step One: Rejecting Victorian Styles
Victorian poetry was formal and emotional. It used long lines, rich language, and clear moral lessons. By the early twentieth century, many writers felt this style no longer fit the world. The world had changed. Machines, cities, and war were reshaping life.
Ezra Pound thought poetry needed to change too. He wanted to cut away the old forms. He believed that the poet should not follow the rules just because they were old. He wanted to make poetry sharp, clear, and strong.
So when Pound said "make it new," he meant poetry should not copy the past. It should speak in a way that fits the present. He did not hate the past. But he did not want poets to get stuck there.
Step Two: Precision in Language
Another part of Ezra Pound’s idea was the need for precise language. He believed poetry should not use too many words. Each word should carry weight. Each image should be clear.
This idea led to a movement called Imagism. Pound helped create it. Imagism focused on direct images. It asked the poet to say what they mean with no extra parts. This was a new way to write poems. It broke with flowery traditions. It opened the door to modern styles.
Pound told poets to avoid vague feelings. Instead, they should show real things. A poem should be like a piece of art that you can see and feel. This was another way to "make it new." It changed how poems looked and sounded.
Step Three: Borrowing from the Past with Purpose
Although Ezra Pound wanted new poetry, he also believed in using the past. But he did not want poets to repeat old poems. He wanted them to learn from ancient voices and make something fresh.
Pound translated works from ancient China, Greece, and Italy. He studied classical texts. He saw that the best poems from the past had power. He believed modern poets could use that power in a new way.
For example, he used forms from old languages in his own work. He brought forgotten styles back into the spotlight. But he always shaped them to fit modern thought. This is what he meant when he said "make it new." Do not copy. Transform.
Step Four: Experimenting with Form
Ezra Pound believed that poets should not be afraid to take risks. He thought poetry should try new shapes and patterns. He was not content with simple rhyme or rhythm. He wanted poetry to grow.
In his long poem called The Cantos, he showed this idea. The poem mixes languages, cultures, and ideas. It does not follow a clear path. It breaks normal rules. Some parts are hard to follow. But they push the limits of what a poem can be.
This kind of bold work was key to his vision. He believed that the poet should be brave. They should not fear confusion. They should trust the reader to grow along with the poem.
Step Five: Art Must Serve Life
Ezra Pound did not see art as a private thing. He believed that poetry should serve culture. He thought that strong art could change society. It could wake people up. It could renew values. In this way, "make it new" was not just about style. It was about life.
Pound saw the poet as a kind of guide. The poet’s job was to clear the path. To find truth. To build new ideas. He believed that if poets stayed stuck in old forms, they would fail. They had to help people see the world in new ways.
For him, renewal was not only for poems. It was for the spirit, the mind, and the world.
Step Six: Global Vision
Pound was not a poet of one place. He lived in the United States, London, Paris, and Italy. He read texts in many languages. He believed that poets should think beyond borders. This global view was part of his vision.
He looked at art from China, Japan, Greece, and beyond. He wanted to show how wisdom crossed time and space. His goal was not to blend cultures but to let them speak to each other. That conversation, he thought, made new things possible.
So when he said "make it new," he also meant to make it broad. Bring in new voices. Share new ways of seeing. Use all the tools the world offers.
Step Seven: A Lasting Influence
Many poets and writers took up Ezra Pound’s call. They did not all agree with him. But they felt his force. T. S. Eliot, H.D., William Carlos Williams, and others changed their work after reading Pound.
Even now, modern poetry often carries his mark. The sharp image. The broken form. The mix of old and new. These came from him. His phrase lives on in creative schools, art circles, and writing classes.
When people say "make it new," they mean more than try something fresh. They mean dig deep. Break fear. Honor the past but do not be ruled by it.
Conclusion
"Make it new" was more than a slogan. It was a call to action. Ezra Pound used it to challenge poets. He asked them to wake up, break rules, and seek truth. He believed poetry could shape life. He believed poets could lead culture into new light.
Each point of his idea ties back to this hope. He wanted poems that were alive. He wanted readers to feel more, see more, and grow. His work was not always easy. His views were sometimes sharp. But his message remains strong.
To make it new is to honor the best of art and carry it forward. Ezra Pound showed how to do that. His call still echoes today.
