Modernist poetry

Modernist poetry is characterised by technical innovation in the mode of versification (sometimes referred to as free verse) and by the dislocation of the 'I' of the poet.

These two facets of modernist poetry are intimately connected with each other. The dislocation of the authorial presence is achieved through the application of such techniques as collage, found poetry, visual poetry, the juxtaposition of apparently unconnected materials, etc. At the same time, these techniques are used not for their own sake but to open up questions in the mind of the reader.

Modernist poetry in English is often viewed as an American phenomenon in origin, with leading exponents including Ezra Pound, Marianne Moore, William Carlos Williams, H.D, and Louis Zukofsky, but there are a number of important British modernists, such as David Jones, Hugh MacDiarmid, Mina Loy, and Basil Bunting.

Modernism was extremely influential in 20th century, being the main influence on groups like the Beats or the Cambridge poets.

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