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.
“next to of course god america i” Themes
More specifically, the poem suggests that mindless patriotism often leads to violence, since it can fuel enthusiasm for war. The poem's cynical view of patriotism is illustrated by the lack of substance in the speaker's speech about America.What is the tone of next to of course god america?
The opening lines of 'next to of course god america i', which you can read in full here, reveal the speaker's sarcastic tone toward patriotism. The fact that he does not capitalize “god” nor “america” reveals his irreverent tone from the onset. He then goes into patriotic songs, but does not finish them.
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.
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.
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.Sep 7, 2021
Who is the speaker in next to of course god america i?
'next to of course god america i': analysis of the poem
Is the poem patriotic or critical of blind patriotism? Since much of the poem is spoken by an imaginary public speaker, such as a politician, it is difficult to gauge cummings' tone, as is so often the case with modernist poetry.
Is the poem patriotic or critical of blind patriotism? Since much of the poem is spoken by an imaginary public speaker, such as a politician, it is difficult to gauge cummings' tone, as is so often the case with modernist poetry.
Hollow Patriotism
The speaker in "next to of course god america i" speaks of faith, nationalism, and sacrifice in glowing terms. He quotes American patriotic hymns but is so cynical in his presentation that he does not even bother to finish his quotations.
Speech and Silence
Although the subject of the poem concerns political rhetoric, the concepts of speech and silence permeate the poem at multiple levels. There are 13 lines of speech and one line of silence; whereas the speech is an unbroken stream of noise, the line of silence is deliberately punctuated.
Tragedy of War
In ineptly attempting to praise the death of the soldiers, the speaker in the poem highlights the tragedy of their deaths. The ideas they fight and die for, as expressed by the speaker, are a string of half-formed nonsense, mouthed by someone who does not care enough to even finish his sentences.
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 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 opening line of the Star Spangled Banner?
The poem goes on to summon a number of earlier patriotic poems about the United States, such as Francis Scott Key’s ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ (better known as the US national anthem), specifically the opening line ‘Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light’ , and the patriotic hymn ‘ America (My Country, ’Tis of Thee) ’.
Who made the point about great religious works of art risking the charge of blasphemy?
Sir Christopher Ricks, the literary critic, made a similar point about great religious works of art risking the charge of blasphemy. The same, we might say, is true of all interesting patriotic poems. You can read ‘next to of course god america i’ by Cummings here before proceeding to our analysis.
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.
Why is the tone of the poem sarcasm?
The element of the poem is mostly tone because it depicts sarcasm and even anger largely in part because of the fact that some people would go as far as to die for patriotism. The entire poem was written within quotation marks and had absolutely no punctuation which made it seem like a fast speech.
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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