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Analysing poetry ENGL 102
Analysing poetry ENGL 102
Analysing poetry ENGL 102
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Recommended: Analysing poetry ENGL 102
In the enchanting poem “next to of course god america i,” E.E. Cummings strings together a masterpiece of patriotic songs that appears to praise the eminent country of America but instead simply shields the underlying network of masterful irony and almost ridicule of US’s people. It is believed that E.E. Cummings wasn’t trying to bombast his country’s winsomeness, but trying to satire the truth of it’s blind patriotism.
He lampoons the patriotic fools of America, particularly soldiers, making them sound rash and illogical, being people who just desire to fight for something to scream and yell for something, justifying their actions by saying it was “for America”, claiming “liberty is an endless war”. Saying “why talk of beauty what could be more beaut/iful than these heroic happy dead who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter” (Cummings, 9-11), illustrates America’s love for a fight, a war, no matter how paramount or trivial, no matter how nonsensical and futile the cause. E.E. Cummings questions America if there is anything more beautiful than people dying mindlessly for America: even
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First, it addresses the soldiers of America. The people fighting probably didn’t have a say in where they are fighting, or why. They just were told to fight because it was “for their country”- yet still does so willingly. Therefore the soldiers “didn’t stop to think they died” and allowed their voice of liberty in why they are fighting, be mute, in the sense that they died as well as didn’t get a say in where and why they were fighting. Second it questions the general public. If they didn’t start riots and petition for something or fight for something, would thier voice of liberty be mute? Was war and violence always the exclusive and unparalleled way to success and more importantly,
Dubbed as “The Greatest Country in the World” by god knows who, America is not as awesome and free as some may see. In doing a close reading of Heather Christle’s “Five Poems for America”, we can see how the author uses metaphors to portray a flawed American, specifically within its political system, religion, obsession with technology and basic human rights. Americans have been living with the oppression of these everyday issues, completely oblivious thus creating the America we infamously know today.
Vivid imagery is one way with which writers protest war. Crane uses imagery to glorify, and shortly thereafter demean and undercut war, through the use of imagery, by placing positive and negative images of war close to eachother. “Blazing flag of the regiment,” and “the great battle God,” are placed before “A field where a thousand corpses lie.” (A) These lines’ purposes are to put images into the reader’s head, of how great war may appear, and then displaying that there are too many casualties involved with it. In Dulce Et Decorum Est, a man is described dyin...
... was strictly a congressman’s war. “With all the silence and dignity of creators you can end wars and the system of selfishness and exploitation that causes wars. All you need to do to bring about this stupendous revolution is to straighten up and fold your arms.” She claimed that if Americans could strike against the war we could “Be heroes in an army of construction” (Keller, 4).
For years literature has molded and shaped the minds of many Americans for better or worse. Literature gives us entertainment and knowledge about things we may not have the opportunity to experience in our everyday lives. These written works have the power to influence readers and alter one’s opinions. This is just what Louis Simpson aimed to do, he was skeptical of the idea that America was picture perfect. During his life, he served in World War II, experiencing it all primarily. The victory of World War II left Americans feeling on top and unstoppable. Simpson fed off of this overwhelming optimism translating it into his poems (Faville). His goal was to pick apart the fantasized image we created for our country and expose the real truth
In his poem Cummings integrated an example of the ideas war propaganda conveys in a humorous but yet serious form. The line: “Who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter/ They did not stop to think they died instead”, clearly builds up on the fact that apparently due to war propaganda it is honourable to die for one’s country. However, in order to convey his opinion and disaffection about this idea the speaker mocks these by using words of sarcasm and irony. Besides this he conveys the urgent message that patriotic war propaganda is a lie and could lead to death, which will be everything else than
After a close analysis of “America” by Tony Hoagland, the poem warns and points out the problems with our consumerism. Hoagland uses metaphors and imagery to describe the actions of American, while throwing in counteracting themes. And uses thoughts and dreams to bring in metaphors that complex the poem.
Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” and E. E Cummings’, “next to of course god america i” are poems that critique patriotic propaganda. Both poems use words and images to effectively depict the influence that patriotic propaganda has on war. “Dulce et Decorum Est” uses descriptive words to create realistic images of the horrors soldiers are faced with during combat, whereas “next to of course god america i” uses sarcasm to inform readers that the abuse of propaganda can be used to manipulate others. The attitudes they convey are quite similar; both suggest that propaganda is a lie; it is not sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.
The era of the American Revolution was a time of great nationalism, hope, and unity. People who were once only colonists were now citizens of a new and exciting nation. As the years wore on, however, the citizens of the United States were faced with the reality of building a country. The nation strove to find a place for itself, to become secure against the power of the rest of the world. Industry grew along with the population, but what the new country gained in strength it lost in spirit. Regional tensions emerged as well as burning political issues. In the aftermath of the civil war the still young nation attempted to regain this nationalism that was once the strength of the country. One area this attempt was prominent in was literature. Two poets specifically sought to find a national mythology by examining what American's value and why it is necessary to pass it on through tradition. The poems by John Greenleaf Whittier and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow are a call for preserving the roots found in the land of America and in the heart of an American.
Before reading “next to god america i” by E.E Cummings one may infer that this is the in order in which the author vies God, America and himself. The poem begins with a man showing his pride in America and showing its importance to him, but as the poem continues it develops a sarcastic tone. In order to show that sometimes one patriotism gets in the way of what is actually going on around them in America. The first stanza is portrayed patriotic, showing ones love and aspirations for America. The tone shift occurs and moves from patriotic to sarcastic in line two by saying “love you and the land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh” Here the reader can infer the author himself has different meaning of patriotism than the ne portrayed in the first
The Falling Soldier is in the anthology’s first section entitled: ‘dumb was as good as dead; better to utter…’ Duffy emphasises how the war was a terrible waste, using the present continuous verb ‘falling’ as a euphemism for the soldiers who fell to their death. This portrays a sense of patriotism and makes the reader feel a want to honour those who gave their life serving for their country. Ultimately, Duffy develops the idea that the war is misleading and emphasises us to leave violence: ‘dropping the gun’. Duffy draws focus to human attitudes throughout ‘The Falling Soldier’ by saying that we should respect those who lost their lives through war, regardless of its futility; this is the essence of her motif of bees.
Many personal values are sacrificed in order to maintain freedom in the country. Freedom is kept by fighting against enemies in war. Wars take a tremendous toll on the people of the country. Many of the things sacrificed for freedom are people’s lives, freedom, money, health, and emotions. Fighting for freedom turns out to be an ironic event.
America is a land filled with strong nationalism; however, there was once a time where one living in America could not say that he was an American. The colonists in the New World did have nationalism, but it was for a land across the sea. In Robert Frost’s poem “The Gift Outright”, there is set forth a stanza concerning the history of America and how this nation came to be. Through his use of personification and other stylistic choices, Frost efficiently communicates and explores the forming of a nation and, thus, the creation of nationalism.
“You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it”-Malcom X. This quote by Malcom X explains that one should not become so blind that they become a slave to their own country. This theme is expressed deeply in the poem Next To Of Course God America I by E.E Cummings. Cummings expresses his negative view on the role of citizens supporting the war in a very different but effective way. His use of punctuation or lack of punctuation throughout the poem is one way he gives off his message. Secondly, Cummings grammar and spelling is used in an odd but noteworthy way to drive his point home. Lastly, syntax or his choice of words is another strategy Cummings uses in order to make sure his message is delivered strongly. In the
There is a oxymoron when it is written "undying dead" (line 9) and this shows how the government emphasizes that more men should fight in war and if they do not, they would feel guilty. If the soldiers do not fight the war, they would die in
Early American literature is an imperative part of the history of the United States; it is something that help define who we are and how our current politics and lifestyle came to be. A significant part of early American literature and the shaping of our country is poetry. Parini says, “The relationship between poetry and national culture is always an intimate if troubled one, and to a large extent what American poets have accomplished as a whole is a measure of what American culture itself has accomplished.” In learning and studying early American literature, reading poetry and deriving its meaning by using your own mind is critical. In fact, many early poets main