Next to god America I -Literature mock examination- Wednesday 7 th December AM

Cummings was an American poet who wrote about war satirically, and was known for playing around with syntax and punctuation in his poetry. He omits punctuation, which creates sentences with differing interpretations in NTG to create an ambiguous poem about war.

National anthem Written after defeat in war Rouses patriotic feelings and calls to war Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight' O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Next to of course god america I love you

Patriotism

“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

Allusions An allusion is a poetic device that creates an reference, or association, to something we are aware of. Allusions are often made to the Bible, myths, famous historical characters or events. ‘The best-laid plans of mice and men Often go awry’ "As the cave's roof collapsed, he was swallowed up in the dust like Jonah, and only his frantic scrabbling behind a wall of rock indicated that there was anyone still alive” "Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but seldom bought anything except necessities". TASK Underline any parts of the poem that seem familiar, or you think are allusions.

The speaker/Cummings includes lyrics from “My Country ‘Tis of Thee ” and “The Star-Spangled Banner national anthem ” and sequences them together. What is the effect of this?

Does the speaker approve of war or not? YesNoThe focus of the poem isn’t about war

Language of the poem Underline examples of the following devices: 1.American patriotic phrases or clichés (eg ‘land of the pilgrims’) 2.Hyperbole 3.oxymorons (contradictory phrases such as ’loving hate’) 4.similes 5.metaphors 6.alliteration (consonant sound repetition )

questions 1 What does the broken syntax (sentences) of the poem suggest about the message of the speaker, and patriotism as a whole? 2 what does the adverb ‘rapidly’ suggest about the speaker’s feelings? 3 Cummings’ sarcasm is evident through this poem. What do you think his attitude towards patriotism is? Is it a warning?

The form: sonnet Why would he have written this poem in the form of a sonnet?

What do we notice about the structure of the poem? -the sentence structure Lack of punctuation

1892 to 1923 "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1923 to 1924 "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1924 to 1954 "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1954 to Present "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The Pledge of Allegiance is an expression of loyalty to the flag and the republic of America

Complete the graph, considering the attitudes to war and how they relate or not to the poem.