According to Ezra Pound, great literature is “simply language loaded with meaning to the highest possible degree” (Pound 28) and “a short story that remains a short story” (29). In his book ABC of Reading, Pound explains that words can be "loaded with meaning in mainly three ways, called phanopoeia, chanting, logopoeia" (37). The way he wrote his book is analogous to how all writing should be: clear rather than abstract and very concise. The poetry annexed to the volume also tends towards neatness, precision and conciseness. John Donne's "The Ecstasy" is one of several works that Pound classifies as "great literature" and is therefore part of the canon of great literature. In “The Ecstasy,” John Donne manages to express what he wants to say without “searching for feelings that fit” his vocabulary” (140) according to Pound. Pound indicates that Donne's choice of words is just a vehicle he uses to convey his message or meaning to the reader. When he writes: “we love secular sepulchral statues” (Donne18), Donne particularly chooses the word “sepulchral” (18) for several reasons. Sepulchral refers to a tomb and therefore describes the physical state of the statues. In addition to this, sepulchral can be used to express a somber tone, and here, Donne personifies the statues by providing them with a sense of emotion. Although it is just one example of many, this example perfectly demonstrates how Donne uses simple words to represent multiple ideas. Pound classifies this as a way of “loading words with meaning” (Pound 37), known as logopoeia. Furthermore, this poem fulfills Pound's requirement to be a "concentrated form of verbal expression" (36) because sepulchral statues can also refer to monuments. By writing this poem, Donne is attempting to construct a monument from words rather than m...... middle of paper ......ucture, putting the entire structure in danger of collapsing. Likewise, when we omit even a single word from Donne's poem, the poem collapses and loses its meaning. The ideas mentioned above prove that Donne was able to convey his meaning to the reader in a concise manner where each word was loaded with profound ideas. Pound includes this particular poem as an example of great literature because it follows his logic: one must be very well read to understand the poem in its full extent. Furthermore, it meets all the criteria to be classified as "great literature" by Pound, but the reader is left with the task of understanding why Pound believes in what he does. Works Cited Donne, John. “Ecstasy.” ABC of reading. By Ezra Pound. New York: New Directions Pub., 2010. 137-40. Print.Pound, Ezra. ABC of reading. New York: New Directions Pub., 2010. Print.