Structuralist Critique
Last Name 1
Student Name
Professor Westrick
ENGL 1102
Day Month Year
Professor Westrick
ENGL 1102
Day Month Year
An Informed Patriot
E.E. Cummings’ “next to of course god america i” is a complicated poem peppered with mixed messages, confusing punctuation and sarcasm, to relay his true feelings and criticism of blind patriotism. The poem alludes to a lighthearted patriotic theme, yet uses a speaker to tell the masses what they should know, while satirically poking fun at how people blindly follow. Then ends the poem with a question to its reader “shall the voice of liberty be mute” (Cummings 13)? E. E. Cummings’ mastery of this passionate and patriotic sonnet “next to of course god america i,” expresses his disapproval of such blind trust through several literary techniques including tone, satire, odd punctuation and an exquisite use of syntax to allow the reader to scrutinize his writing and to ultimately question its true meaning.
Cummings uses his prolific knowledge of the English language and several literary devices to communicate his exasperation. “next to of course god america i” begins with its thought provoking title and lack of capitalization. This absence of capitals shows Cummings’ lack of respect for all three, god, america and i. A person without faith in God could be called an atheist. A person without trust in the country could be called Un-American or traitorous. Having spent time during World War I as a volunteer ambulance driver, Cummings had an up close and personal view of the war. Unfortunately, he also received an unwarranted internment at a French detention camp for having anti-war sentiments that he freely spoke and wrote about (Goldfarb). It is also through this hypocritical experience, the denial of his rights of free thought and speech, that he bore his distaste for the war, blind patriotism and authority. Can one have free speech and still be a patriot? Having lived through these experiences, Cummings launched his career by writing his first book about the war and then began to satirically attack the mass mind that did not question, but followed (Dendiger).
Cummings uses the voice of the speaker to set an authoritative tone and demand attention, much like a politician during an election speech. Upon first glance, the use of partial phrasing from two American National Anthems in lines 3 and 4, along with the rhythm and rhyme scheme, make this passionate poem a seemingly silly nursery rhyme. The strange syntax in line 1 and 2 “next to of course god america i / love you land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh” (Cummings) cause unexpected breaks with odd phrasing, that cause purposeful confusion. Cummings demonstrates his lack of conformity by “wickedly rolled cliches together to satirise mindless patriotism” (Lennard 274). Again the syntax is confusing as the speaker performs his speech. Puzzled by the sarcastic tone of the partial patriotic phrases and enjambments like, “love you land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh / say can you see by the dawn’s early my ” (Cummings
lines 2-3), the reader is compelled to either follow the speakers ideals or to question them to decipher his/her own meaning.
Cummings uses a creative combination of words with “deafanddumb” (Line 6) condemning patriots for being hearing impaired and mute, instead of being inquisitive, informed and vocalizing their opinion. The poem takes a serious tone with the personification “thy sons acclaim your glorious name” along with the negative imagery of “gorry” (Cummings line 7). It becomes personal and real; no longer light and witty. Cummings warns patriots to stand proud to be American, but take heed. Line 8 includes “jingo,” an insistent supporter of policy favoring war, and combines it with “by gee by gosh by gum” (Cummings) to make it sound trivial. Cummings’ “distorted syntax...were intended not to bewilder, but to heighten the understanding” (Triem 1). In line 9 Cummings’ enjambement of the word beautiful into “beaut-/” further draws attention to “these heroic happy dead” in line 10. Now that they are dead, is their voice mute? The speaker refers to the soldiers as mindlessly running into “slaughter.” Cummings’ use of irony suggests the foolish are heroes, and are dead. Are the soldiers heroic or foolish because they died for their country while following blindly into battle?
Cummings lack of punctuation throughout forces the reader to not pause, but hurry through a nonsensical grouping of words until the speaker comes to an abrupt end, to demonstrate the rapid spewing of political rantings. It becomes evident Cummings view is separate from the speaker’s as Cummings sarcasm is his way to educate and inform. The poem concludes with a poignant question “then shall the voice of liberty be mute?” and then the speaker “drank rapidly a glass of water” (Cummings 13-14). As the speaker quickly drinks his glass of water, he also then quickly swallows his own thoughts and beliefs.
“next to of course god america i” is filled with mixed messages, strange syntax, sarcasm and odd punctuation. Although the poem seems incoherent and the rhythm and rhyme sound pleasant, Cummings intended his reader to notice the syntax and to contemplate why the use of distortion. He did so to bring forth more attention to his message that to follow blindly in the name of patriotism is not patriotism at all. “Throughout his literary career, Cummings devoted himself to attacking convention and conformity while celebrating imagination, intuition, and the individual” (Goldfarb 1). According to the ideals of the United States, liberty is freedom and freedom encompasses free will and free speech. Cummings brilliant use of creative language
and lack of conformity brings forth a greater meaning and need for contemplation. So, one can be a patriot while informed and outspoken, not silent. To be a patriot does not mean to be hearing impaired, mute or to follow blindly.
Cummings uses his prolific knowledge of the English language and several literary devices to communicate his exasperation. “next to of course god america i” begins with its thought provoking title and lack of capitalization. This absence of capitals shows Cummings’ lack of respect for all three, god, america and i. A person without faith in God could be called an atheist. A person without trust in the country could be called Un-American or traitorous. Having spent time during World War I as a volunteer ambulance driver, Cummings had an up close and personal view of the war. Unfortunately, he also received an unwarranted internment at a French detention camp for having anti-war sentiments that he freely spoke and wrote about (Goldfarb). It is also through this hypocritical experience, the denial of his rights of free thought and speech, that he bore his distaste for the war, blind patriotism and authority. Can one have free speech and still be a patriot? Having lived through these experiences, Cummings launched his career by writing his first book about the war and then began to satirically attack the mass mind that did not question, but followed (Dendiger).
Cummings uses the voice of the speaker to set an authoritative tone and demand attention, much like a politician during an election speech. Upon first glance, the use of partial phrasing from two American National Anthems in lines 3 and 4, along with the rhythm and rhyme scheme, make this passionate poem a seemingly silly nursery rhyme. The strange syntax in line 1 and 2 “next to of course god america i / love you land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh” (Cummings) cause unexpected breaks with odd phrasing, that cause purposeful confusion. Cummings demonstrates his lack of conformity by “wickedly rolled cliches together to satirise mindless patriotism” (Lennard 274). Again the syntax is confusing as the speaker performs his speech. Puzzled by the sarcastic tone of the partial patriotic phrases and enjambments like, “love you land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh / say can you see by the dawn’s early my ” (Cummings
lines 2-3), the reader is compelled to either follow the speakers ideals or to question them to decipher his/her own meaning.
Cummings uses a creative combination of words with “deafanddumb” (Line 6) condemning patriots for being hearing impaired and mute, instead of being inquisitive, informed and vocalizing their opinion. The poem takes a serious tone with the personification “thy sons acclaim your glorious name” along with the negative imagery of “gorry” (Cummings line 7). It becomes personal and real; no longer light and witty. Cummings warns patriots to stand proud to be American, but take heed. Line 8 includes “jingo,” an insistent supporter of policy favoring war, and combines it with “by gee by gosh by gum” (Cummings) to make it sound trivial. Cummings’ “distorted syntax...were intended not to bewilder, but to heighten the understanding” (Triem 1). In line 9 Cummings’ enjambement of the word beautiful into “beaut-/” further draws attention to “these heroic happy dead” in line 10. Now that they are dead, is their voice mute? The speaker refers to the soldiers as mindlessly running into “slaughter.” Cummings’ use of irony suggests the foolish are heroes, and are dead. Are the soldiers heroic or foolish because they died for their country while following blindly into battle?
Cummings lack of punctuation throughout forces the reader to not pause, but hurry through a nonsensical grouping of words until the speaker comes to an abrupt end, to demonstrate the rapid spewing of political rantings. It becomes evident Cummings view is separate from the speaker’s as Cummings sarcasm is his way to educate and inform. The poem concludes with a poignant question “then shall the voice of liberty be mute?” and then the speaker “drank rapidly a glass of water” (Cummings 13-14). As the speaker quickly drinks his glass of water, he also then quickly swallows his own thoughts and beliefs.
“next to of course god america i” is filled with mixed messages, strange syntax, sarcasm and odd punctuation. Although the poem seems incoherent and the rhythm and rhyme sound pleasant, Cummings intended his reader to notice the syntax and to contemplate why the use of distortion. He did so to bring forth more attention to his message that to follow blindly in the name of patriotism is not patriotism at all. “Throughout his literary career, Cummings devoted himself to attacking convention and conformity while celebrating imagination, intuition, and the individual” (Goldfarb 1). According to the ideals of the United States, liberty is freedom and freedom encompasses free will and free speech. Cummings brilliant use of creative language
and lack of conformity brings forth a greater meaning and need for contemplation. So, one can be a patriot while informed and outspoken, not silent. To be a patriot does not mean to be hearing impaired, mute or to follow blindly.
Works Cited
Cummings, E. E. “next to of course god america i.” Literature: An Introduction to
Reading and Writing, Compact Edition. Ed Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig.
6th ed. New York: Pearson, 2015. 584. Print.
Dendinger, Lloyd N. "E. E. Cummings." Critical Survey of Poetry, Second Revised
Edition, September 2002, pp. 1-6. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lfh&AN=103331CSP11530168000519&site=eds-live.
Goldfarb, Sheldon. “E. E. Cummings.” Dictionary of World Biography: The 20th Century,
January 2000, pp. 1-3 EBSCOhost, exproxy.gsu.edu/login?url=http://
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
Lennard, John. The Poetry Handbook (2). Oxford, GB: OUP Oxford, 2005. ProQuest
ebrary. Web. 12 March 2017.
Triem, Eve. University of Minnesota Pamphlets on American Writers: E. E.
Cummings: University of Minnesota Pamphlets on American Writers
No. 87. Minneapolis, US: University of Minnesota Press, 1970.
ProQuest ebrary. Web. 20 March 2017.
Reading and Writing, Compact Edition. Ed Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig.
6th ed. New York: Pearson, 2015. 584. Print.
Dendinger, Lloyd N. "E. E. Cummings." Critical Survey of Poetry, Second Revised
Edition, September 2002, pp. 1-6. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lfh&AN=103331CSP11530168000519&site=eds-live.
Goldfarb, Sheldon. “E. E. Cummings.” Dictionary of World Biography: The 20th Century,
January 2000, pp. 1-3 EBSCOhost, exproxy.gsu.edu/login?url=http://
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
Lennard, John. The Poetry Handbook (2). Oxford, GB: OUP Oxford, 2005. ProQuest
ebrary. Web. 12 March 2017.
Triem, Eve. University of Minnesota Pamphlets on American Writers: E. E.
Cummings: University of Minnesota Pamphlets on American Writers
No. 87. Minneapolis, US: University of Minnesota Press, 1970.
ProQuest ebrary. Web. 20 March 2017.