The new approach to poetry that emerged between 1900 and 1920 sought to put aside the sentimentality and strict obedience to established forms that had characterized the Victorian poets of preceding decades. Many poets in both the United States and Europe had begun to experiment with free verse – poetry that does not adhere to set standards of rhyme or rhythm – and several magazines were founded in order to publish this “new poetry.” It was not until 1912, however, that the first real school of new poetry emerged from the chaos of experimentation. With only a handful of adherents, but access to the editorial department of a key American literary magazine, Ezra Pound created and sustained Imagism by mere declaration. Pound, an American poet living in London, had at first opened lines of communication with a small group of English poets who combined deep appreciation for Japanese verse forms, such as haiku, with experiments in free verse. Although Pound was briefly aligned with this group, he soon found greater artistic affinity with Richard Aldington, a fledgling English poet, and Hilda Doolittle, who signed her poems “H.D.” One of H.D.’s first poems, “Hermes of the Ways,” so delighted Pound with its crystal clear images and lack of ornamentation that he assigned her the penname “H.D., Imagist” and sent the poem immediately to the U.S. for publication in the magazine Poetry, for which he was serving as foreign editor. In a later issue of Poetry, Pound articulated the guiding principles of Imagism, stressing that poets should treat objects directly, use no words that do not contribute to the presentation, and write according to the rhythm of the words rather than an accepted poetic form. In addition to his work with literary periodicals, Pound also edited an anthology of Imagist poems in 1914. Ironically, however, his insistence that no explanation of the Imagist movement be offered in the anthology backfired; readers did not understand that Pound and his Imagists were experimenting with a new form of poetry, and many of the anthologies were returned to the publisher. Which of the following is cited in the passage as a historical reason that Ezra Pound could play such a decisive role in the development of Imagism? A. He clearly defined the principles of Imagism in the pages of an influential literary magazine. B. He himself was a successful poet and was able to help others follow his lead. C. He was delighted by HD’s use of images and lack of ornamentation. D. He was the foreign editor for an important American poetry magazine. E. He capitalized on an emerging taste for free verse in the United States and Europe.

Last visit was: 06 Sep 2026, 22:38

It is currently 06 Sep 2026, 22:38

Toolkit

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Sep 07
All GMAT Club Tests are free and open for Labor Day on Monday, September 7th!
12:01 AM PDT
-
11:59 PM PDT
On the 7th, GMAT Club Tests will be Free! Including all the Quizzes, Questions, and Tests. 12 AM - 11:59 PM PDT
Sep 07
The Free 12-Week GMAT Study Plan (Full Walkthrough)
10:00 AM PDT
-
11:00 AM PDT
A complete walkthrough of GMAT Club’s free 12-week GMAT study plan: what you study each week, how progress and goals are tracked, how the error log works, and how your practice unlocks paid tools at no cost.
Sep 02
Save on All Magoosh Study Plans
01:00 PM EDT
-
11:59 PM EDT
Take 30% off all study plans with code COURSEWORK - Expires on Monday 9/7
Sep 04
BIG NEWS! We’ve been nominated, and we’d love your vote!
10:00 AM EDT
-
11:59 PM EDT
We’ve worked incredibly hard to build TTP into the best test prep experience possible, and it would mean a lot to us to win Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep. If TTP has helped you, we’d be incredibly grateful for your vote.
Sep 06
Live Online Class with Top EA Expert Logan Thompson
09:30 AM EDT
-
12:30 PM EST
Top scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful EA course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Perfect class schedule and easy course access for working professionals. Class starts Sundays Sept. 6, 2026.
Sep 09
Masters' Spotlight Fair
07:00 AM PDT
-
10:00 AM PDT
Meet AdComs and explore top Master’s programs - MiM, MiF, MSc, MSBA and more. - Application Fee Waivers - Free 1-Week of GMAT Club Tests: - Master's Application Toolkit - Grand Prize Giveaway
Sep 09
How Aman Bounced Back from 3 MBA Rejections to Get Into Cambridge
10:00 AM PDT
-
11:00 AM PDT
Three MBA applications. Three rejections. No interview invites. A year later, Aman was admitted to Cambridge Judge, SMU, and IMD. In this episode of MBA Admit Stories, Aman shares how he rebuilt his MBA application...
Sep 15
Live Online Class with Top GMAT Expert Rich Zwelling
07:00 PM EDT
-
09:00 PM EST
Elite scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GMAT course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Tues/Thurs Sept. 15, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2027, 7:00pm-9:00pm EST
Sep 21
Live Online Bootcamp Class with Top GMAT Expert Chris Peckover
08:00 PM EDT
-
10:00 PM EDT
Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri Sept. 21, 2026 - Oct. 9, 2027, 7:00pm-10:00pm EST

Back to Forum

Create Topic

V01-01, V01-02, V01-03, V01-04, V01-05

1 2 3

miag

Verbal Forum Moderator

Joined: 10 Dec 2023

Last visit: 08 Aug 2026

Posts: 397

Own Kudos:

166

Given Kudos: 737

Location: India

Concentration: Marketing, Sustainability

Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Haas '26 (A) Kellogg '26 (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q87 V83 DI80 Verified score

GPA: 3.2/4

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Haas '26 (A) Kellogg '26 (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q87 V83 DI80 Verified score

Posts: 397

Kudos: 166

07 Jan 2026, 05:50

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi,

The key phrase is first real school of new poetry emerging from a chaos of experimentation.
That wording implies that before 1912, poets were experimenting, but without a clearly defined, organized movement that could be called a school.
Answer A doesn't claim that no poets or collaborations existed earlier, it only says there were no clearly defined movements, which is exactly what chaos of experimentation suggests.

RC inference questions ask what the author’s language most reasonably implies, not what might be hypothetically possible. This is why A) is correct, and E) is a stretch.

Hope this helps!

Vivek1707

I don’t quite agree with the solution. For Q1
In the first para its mentioned that it that "It was not until 1912, however, that the first real school of new poetry emerged from the chaos of experimentation.

and then its mentioend that....

......Ezra Pound created and sustained Imagism by mere declaration.

Between these lines its a stretch to infer that there were no clearly defined movementes before imagism. Its difficult to infer that imagism was the first. Its a possibilty but cant be 100% sure

Additionally, having a school of new poetry doesnt mean that this was the first time any defined movement came into being.

What if there were defined movements but were they died out before getting any traction ?
The passage says it was the first time a school of new poetry emerged.

I can understand that this is the best answer among the lot. Closest answer is E but that I agree is wrong cause 'many movements' is not justified

gabrielaacosta98

Joined: 20 Feb 2021

Last visit: 10 Feb 2026

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

19 Jan 2026, 10:50

Kudos

Bookmarks

I don’t quite agree with the solution. In the passage they never mentioned Imagism

miag

Verbal Forum Moderator

Joined: 10 Dec 2023

Last visit: 08 Aug 2026

Posts: 397

Own Kudos:

166

Given Kudos: 737

Location: India

Concentration: Marketing, Sustainability

Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Haas '26 (A) Kellogg '26 (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q87 V83 DI80 Verified score

GPA: 3.2/4

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Haas '26 (A) Kellogg '26 (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q87 V83 DI80 Verified score

Posts: 397

Kudos: 166

19 Jan 2026, 20:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi,

You might have missed it, the passage does mention Imagism a couple of times:
"With only a handful of adherents, but access to the editorial department of a key American literary magazine, Ezra Pound created and sustained Imagism by mere declaration"

"In a later issue of Poetry, Pound articulated the guiding principles of Imagism, stressing that poets should treat objects directly, use no words..."

Sharing some sentence excerpts from the passage...do let me know if you have any specific doubt or concern with the passage!

Hope this helps!

gabrielaacosta98

I don’t quite agree with the solution. In the passage they never mentioned Imagism

practiceonly

Joined: 01 Jan 2026

Last visit: 06 Sep 2026

Posts: 3

Given Kudos: 71

Posts: 3

Kudos: 0

17 Mar 2026, 03:25

Kudos

Bookmarks

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

GulfTube

Joined: 13 Apr 2026

Last visit: 17 Aug 2026

Posts: 210

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 77

Posts: 210

Kudos: 70

Updated on: 14 May 2026, 01:50

Originally posted by GulfTube on 09 May 2026, 05:52.
Last edited by GulfTube on 14 May 2026, 01:50, edited 1 time in total.

Kudos

Bookmarks

V01-05
Option E says "He capitalized on an emerging taste for free verse in the United States and Europe". This can very well be taken as the reason that[color=#333333]Ezra Pound could play such a decisive role in the development of Imagism. [/color]How can you suddenly infer that the taste for free verse among public is needed for it to be considered the decisive factor, and not just the poets? A poetry movement will seek poets' interest for it's development rather than seeking public interest as well.

@Bunuel

GulfTube

Joined: 13 Apr 2026

Last visit: 17 Aug 2026

Posts: 210

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 77

Posts: 210

Kudos: 70

14 May 2026, 01:47

Kudos

Bookmarks

V01-05
Option E says "He capitalized on an emerging taste for free verse in the United States and Europe". This can very well be taken as the reason that Ezra Pound could play such a decisive role in the development of Imagism.

How can you suddenly infer that the taste for free verse among public is needed for it to be considered the decisive factor, and not just the poets? A poetry movement will seek poets' interest for it's development rather than seeking public interest as well.

Bunuel KarishmaB