Making Connections

1. In what ways is Demuth’s I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold (p. 1108) an illustration of Williams’s “The Great Figure”? In what ways does it depart from the poem?

   Question

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   Making Connections: - In what ways is Demuth’s I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold (p. 1108) an illustration of Williams’s “The Great Figure”? In what ways does it depart from the poem?
2. What stylistic choices did Demuth make to illustrate Williams’s poem? Consider Demuth’s use of color, shape, line, perspective, and light.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - What stylistic choices did Demuth make to illustrate Williams’s poem? Consider Demuth’s use of color, shape, line, perspective, and light.
3. Ekphrasis is a term used to describe a piece of writing that comments on another art form—for example, a poem about a piece of artwork or a novel about a film. In the case of these two works, the writing came first. How precisely does the painting comment on the poem?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - Ekphrasis is a term used to describe a piece of writing that comments on another art form—for example, a poem about a piece of artwork or a novel about a film. In the case of these two works, the writing came first. How precisely does the painting comment on the poem?
4. Why do you think Demuth painted the number 5 three times? What part of Williams’s poem does that particular element illustrate?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - Why do you think Demuth painted the number 5 three times? What part of Williams’s poem does that particular element illustrate?
5. According to Peter Halter in The Revolution in the Visual Arts and the Poetry of William Carlos Williams, when Demuth sent I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold to the photographer and promoter of modern art Alfred Stieglitz, Demuth said, “I hope you like it. It looks almost American.” What do you think he meant? Why do you think it was important to Demuth that his work look American?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - According to Peter Halter in The Revolution in the Visual Arts and the Poetry of William Carlos Williams, when Demuth sent I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold to the photographer and promoter of modern art Alfred Stieglitz, Demuth said, “I hope you like it. It looks almost American.” What do you think he meant? Why do you think it was important to Demuth that his work look American?