- "second only to god i love you america, land of the pilgrims"
- speaker directly addresses america, immediately states his/her loyalty
- begins a rant with common american symbols, as if feeling the need to prove him/herself
- "my country (america) has centuries of history, there is nothing to criticize it for"
- the phrase "come and go" contradicts the centuries of history by suggesting that it was insignificant
- "my country tis of" is an allusion to "America the Beautiful"
- "everyone around the world praises you and your ideals"
- deafanddumb is group together to emphasize a rapid, careless tone
- your "glorious name" seems biblical, comparing america to god
- "What could be more admired than soldiers who without question sacrifice themselves for their country"
- criticizes unquestioning loyalty for country, and war itself
- "They didn't stop to think that they were dying to keep liberty alive?"
- Further criticism of unquestioning loyalty to country and war
- Brings attention to our country's justification for war
- "He spoke. And then drank a glass of water quickly"
- Ending of one speaker and the beginning of another.
- first was frantic, second observant
- drinking the water quickly suggests that the first speaker was nervous, and short of breath after his speech
Next to of course god america i:
Poetry Explication
Emily Merola
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
E.E. Cummings
Tone and Meaning
In Conclusion
What is our understanding after analysis?
- Allusions to american symbols such as the "land of the pilgrims" and "The Star Spangled Banner" seem rehearsed and stoic.
- reinforced by the lack of punctuation
- Cummings' sarcastic tone about the love for America [first half of the speaker's rant] feeds into the criticisms he states about war and of unquestioning loyalty
Cummings' Message
- With phrases like "and so forth," and "by jingo by gee by gosh by gum," the poem acquires a satirical, somewhat sarcastic tone.
Cummings' Purpose
- The reader can now understand that America and its values may be imperfect, unlike its universal image may suggest
How does tone impact the meaning of the poem as a whole?
- speaker's tone implies that the love for his country is superficial and forced
Important Lines and Analysis
Form
Speaker(s), punctuation, structure
Where is the punctuation?
"next to of course god america i
love you land of the pilgrims' and so forth oh
say can you see by the dawn's early my
country 'tis of centuries come and go
and are no more what of it we should worry
in every language even deafanddumb
thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry
by jingo by gee by gosh by gum
why talk of beauty what could be more beaut-
iful than these heroic happy dead
who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter
they did not stop to think they died instead
then shall the voice of liberty be mute?"
He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water
Who are the speakers in this poem?
Where are the shifts and what is their purpose?
All of the little things:
- of course
- so forth
- by gorry by jingo by gee by gosh by gum
- rapidly
How do these words/ phrases impact our understanding of the MOPAW?
Works Cited
Through a lack of punctuation, allusions to popular american culture, and tone, E.E. Cummings creates a satirical criticism of war, American values, and unquestioning loyalty to one's country.