what is the theme of the poem next to of course god america i

by Prof. Carissa Langosh 6 min read

next to of course god america i is one of the strangest sonnets ever written. It is a poem that delights in its own satire, that whimsically dances with cliches and pays little heed to punctuation. Overall, this is a rebel sonnet that ridicules the notion of patriotism, as delivered by an anonymous speaker.

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.

Full Answer

What does the poem next to of course God America I mean?

Aug 18, 2016 · 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. 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 …

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

Like many of e. e. cummings’ poems, ‘next to of course god america i’ is difficult to follow because he deliberately wrests language into new shapes, bending the rules of syntax, so that we begin (without a capital letter, as is his trademark style) with the declaration ‘next . to of course god america i / love you’, which essentially means ‘next to God (of course, he comes first), I love …

What is the rhyme scheme of God America I?

Jan 24, 2010 · There is a belief that suggests that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. This could serve as an excellent starting point for the discussion in Cummings' work. The …

What does Cummings mock about the United States in this poem?

Jan 01, 2015 · 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 is ironic about E.E. Cummings poem next to of course god america i?

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.

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

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 does the opening line of "Next to of course God America I" mean?

Lines 1-5. 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.

Does God America I capitalize next to God America I?

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 does the speaker say in the line 6-8?

Lines 6-8. in every language even deafanddumb. thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry. 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” ...

What was Cummings' bitterness for war?

As a volunteer during World War I, Cummings acquired a bitterness for war which he did not scruple to express. He was outspoken and willing to go against the grain to stand up for what he believed in, no matter what the cost. This poem reveals some of his deepest, if unpopular, beliefs.

How does Cummings remove himself from the poem?

He removes himself from the poem by using a speaker within a speaker, but the content of the poem directly corresponds with Cummings’ life experiences. As a volunteer during World War I, Cummings acquired a bitterness for war which he did not scruple to express. He was outspoken and willing to go against the grain to stand up for ...

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 ...

Does the speaker refer to the dead as happy?

At that point, it does not seem to matter. Thus, as a form of jest, the speaker refers to the dead as “heroic” and “happy”. His lack of respect for those who have lost their lives for the freedom of the country only serves to further cause his readers to consider his point.

What is the quotation mark in the poem "Someone is about to speak"?

Quotation marks begin this poem. Someone is about to speak, is speaking. This could be a speech about God, America, the ego. All three are right next to each other and all three are written in lower case, which is the poet's prerogative but looks kind of odd.

Can you see by the dawn's early light?

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light. The poet's allusion to the anthem is stark and the patriotic musical association is reinforced as line three ends with my and line four begins with country 'tis of - the opening line of a hymn written in 1832 by Samuel Francis Smith:

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 said almost every great work of art comes close to saying the opposite of what it means?

It was the American writer Gene Wolfe who once remarked that almost every great work of art comes close to saying the opposite of what it means. Sir Christopher Ricks, the literary critic, made a similar point about great religious works of art risking the charge of blasphemy.

Who is the most experimental modernist poet?

The 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.

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 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 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.

What does the title "Next to America I" mean?

Thus the poem by E.E. Cummings “next to of course america i” has a lot of meaning. The title shows faith, patriotism, and self-importance. The writer/ speaker loved America but did not love her war. E.E. Cummings himself has seen the horrors of what a war can do.

What does the last line of the poem show?

Thus the poem by E.E. Cummings “next to of course america i” has a lot of meaning. The title shows faith, patriotism, and self-importance.

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Summary Analysis of E.E.Cummings Poem Next to of Course God America I

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next to of course god america iis one of the strangest sonnets ever written. It is a poem that delights in its own satire, that whimsically dances with cliches and pays little heed to punctuation. Overall, this is a rebel sonnet that ridicules the notion of patriotism, as delivered by an anonymous speaker. E.E.Cummings remained a co…
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Analysis of Next to of Course God America I

  • next to of course god america i is a 14 line sonnet with a rhyme scheme ababcdcdefgfeg and an inconsistent iambic meter (metre in British English) which helps vary the rhythmic stresses of the lines. Basically this is a hybrid English and Russian sonnet with a cumming's twist - a single line at the end. The poet also plays with syntax, grammar and device to create a single work that is bot…
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More Line by Line Analysis of Next to of Course God America I

  • Lines 1- 4 Quotation marks begin this poem. Someone is about to speak, is speaking. This could be a speech about God, America, the ego. All three are right next to each other and all three are written in lower case, which is the poet's prerogative but looks kind of odd. Does this mean the poet, the speaker, thinks little of all three? Why not use use capitals to signify importance? 1. An…
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Further Analysis

  • Lines 5 - 8 The centuries are no more.... the speaker reminds the reader that time has gone and what's the use of time? Does a country have to learn from its history? What about the past, the present, the future? The lines, without punctuation, continue at a frantic pace; fragments of well known songs combine with cliche and personal opinion as the speaker gushes forth his platitud…
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More Analysis

  • Lines 9 - 12 A slight change in rhythm as line 9 brings beauty out of the blue, repeated at the end of the line as Cummings splits beaut/iful in two. This not only allows the line to end with a rising beaut- but ties up the full rhyme later on with mute(in line 13). 1. Lines 8 and 9 build into the alliterative line 10 which contains the oxymoron heroic happy dead - happily dead? Not only are t…
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Sources

  • The Hand of the Poet, Rizzoli, 1997 www.poetryfoundation.org www.loc.gov/poetry © 2017 Andrew Spacey
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