what does next to of course god america i mean

Full Answer

What does next to of course God America I reveal about the speaker?

With the last line of ‘next to of course god america i’, the speaker reveals the readers that all that he has been saying is not spoken by him but to him. However, his decision to repeat what he has been told reveals that the ideas resonate with him.

What is the poem ‘God-fearing America’ about?

The poem is a parody of a ‘speech’ to extreme patriots — the ranting monologue of ‘God-fearing’ America.

What do the words “My Country Tis of centuries come and go” mean?

The words that seem to be serious, are the ones that say, “My country tis of centuries come and go and are no more”. This is the one thing that the speaker takes seriously, the mortality of himself and all other human beings. Patriotism aside, he knows that each and every human being will one-day face death. He knows that centuries come and go.

What does the title of next to of course god america i mean?

E.E. Cummings “next to of course god america i” is a poem about patriotism and the war. The poem starts off with the speaker being someone that is a patriot and feels strongly about America. As the poem progresses it takes a different approach becoming very sarcastic.

What does the speaker in Cummings next to of course god america i use as some of his lines?

Lines 9-13 With these lines of 'next to of course god america i', the speaker is again heavily sarcastic. He asks a sarcastic and yet rhetorical question, “What could be more beautiful than these heroic happy dead?” In effect, he causes the readers to question the point of patriotism to a dead person.

What allusions are in next to of course god america i?

Keats, Lions and Lambs The allusion to the alleged biblical verse of lion lying with lamb -- a phrase that occurs nowhere in Scripture -- has happened already to these warriors; they are lambs to a slaughter the speaker urges upon them.

Who wrote next to the course of God America I?

poet e. e. cummingsThe American poet e. e. cummings (as he styled himself) was one of the most linguistically experimental mainstream modernist poets writing in the United States in the twentieth century, and his poem 'next to of course god america i' is a fine example of his innovative style.

What is the Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls about?

'the Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls' by E. E. Cummings is about the differences in social classes, ignorance, and reality. The speaker judges the Cambridge women for the fiction they engage in and their lack of interest in the real world. This piece is one of Cummings' easiest to read.

What is literary devices in a story?

Literary devices are specific techniques that allow a writer to convey a deeper meaning that goes beyond what's on the page. Literary devices work alongside plot and characters to elevate a story and prompt reflection on life, society, and what it means to be human.

What must a poem include to be considered free verse?

Here's a quick and simple definition: Free verse is the name given to poetry that doesn't use any strict meter or rhyme scheme. Because it has no set meter, poems written in free verse can have lines of any length, from a single word to much longer.

What does the speaker say in the line "Jingo by Gee by Gosh by Gum"?

by jingo by gee by gosh by gum. With these lines, the speaker reveals that people of every language, and yes even deaf people have “acclaim [ed” the “glorious” name of patriotism through the “gory details of war”. The use of the words “jingo”, “gee”, “gosh” and “gum” suggest that the speaker believes the gory wars in the name ...

What does the use of the words "jingo" mean?

The use of the words “jingo”, “gee”, “gosh” and “gum” suggest that the speaker believes the gory wars in the name of patriotism to be senseless, just like the words he uses to describe it.

What degree did Allisa have?

Allisa graduated with a degree in Secondary Education and English and taught World Literature and Composition at the high school level. She has always enjoyed writing, reading, and analysing literature.

What is the meaning of "next to of course God America I"?

E.E. Cummings “next to of course god america i” is a poem about patriotism and the war. The poem starts off with the speaker being someone that is a patriot and feels strongly about America. As the poem progresses it takes a different approach becoming very sarcastic. In this sarcasm the writer shows that we are ignoring the negative aspects ...

Why is the poem "Next to of course God America I" in quotation marks?

Most of the poem is in quotation marks, probably because it was from a public speech. This unknown speaker could well have been a politician or a soldier showing his patriotism and religious belief.

What does "country tis of centuries come and go" mean?

When the speaker says “and so forth oh” the reader can see the way he really feels about America and patriotism. The words “country ’tis of centuries come and go” further emphasizes his lack of interest and saracasm. The actual words “come and go” mean that things don’t change; therefore America will never change and will always have the same problems.

Perspective and Narrator

The poem "next to of course god america i" is narrated in the third person. All but the final line of the poem take the form of a rambling speech by an unidentified speaker who delivers garbled patriotic opinions in the first person.

Tense

The poem "next to of course god america i" is narrated in the past tense. The speech that forms all but the last line of the poem is spoken in the present tense.

About the Title

The title "next to of course god america i" is the first line of the poem, which is common for poems not ascribed a separate or distinct title. The line's lack of standard punctuation and capitalization characterize the poem and the poet, as does the jumbled patriotic tone.

Summary

This study guide for e.e. cummings's next to of course god america i offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Themes

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Next to of course god america i

ee cummings, a pacifist, was imprisoned during World War One for his supposed disloyalty to America. He was also accused, falsely, of being a spy. After the war he moved to… Read More

About

ee cummings, a pacifist, was imprisoned during World War One for his supposed disloyalty to America. He was also accused, falsely, of being a spy. After the war he moved to Paris where he wrote satirical poems. His novel The Enormous Room (1922) was the first of his many literary attacks on authoritarianism and rabid nationalism.