Where? What?
Today we are learning to … …explore and analyse ‘next to of course god america i’ by E. E. Cummings. Yes, I know there should be capital letters … !
US Pledge of Allegiance PLAY
US Pledge of Allegiance 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.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY next to of course god america i by E. E. Cummings When do you think this might have been written?
US Pledge of Allegiance An expression of loyalty to the federal flag and the republic of the USA. It is compulsory for this to be recited in schools in all but 5 states of USA Recited by standing to attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Members and veterans of the Armed Forces give the military salute.
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 thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's 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? The Star Spangled Banner
Born 1894, Massachussets Influential and highly respected poet, who published nearly 2900 poems, 2 autobiographical novels, 4 plays and several essays. During WWI he served in the Ambulance Corps. He and a friend were mistakenly arrested on suspicion of espionage, having openly expressed anti-war views and spoken of a lack of hatred for the Germans. They were released after 3 ½ months in an internment camp. Experimented with modernist and avant- garde poetry forms as well as more conventional forms. Many of his poems used satire, including ‘next to of course god america i’. Died 1962 – at the time he was 2 nd most widely read poet in USA. E. E. Cummings
Looking at the form Circle any use of punctuation and capital letters: consider the voice in the poem. Underline one phrase or idea in the poem that stands out for you – be ready to explain why. Mark on the poem with a slash where you think the tone changes in the poem. Very similar to the sonnet form. Why might the poet do this? Share ideas and annotate
Exploring sound and silence Highlight anything associated with sound. How should the opening phrase be read? Share ideas and annotate
“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
“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 Cummings often experimented with form, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure – at the time this was radical! Lacking punctuation, capital letters and syntax mixed up. What might this emphasise about what the poet is saying? What IS the poet trying to say? The poet gives the impression that the speaker might continue with his speech after. Seems to glorify America here? Why do we not think this by the end? capital letters - speaker and personality at the centre? Undermining patriotism? patriotic cliché Oxymoron – satiric tone Simile– effect
Satire: making fun of shortcomings, mistakes, hypocrisy etc in an attempt to improve individuals, societies or even countries
The end of the poem Who is ‘He’ and how he is feeling (indicated through his actions)? Support your ideas with reference to the poem. In pairs, decide what might make up the next 5-10 lines of the poem. Consider: – whether he will continue with the same ideas or change direction. – whether he will turn out to be patriotic, anti-American, or anti-war. – what his main ideas might be about war, soldiering, death, etc. What other poems that we have studied can you compare this to? Why?