The possession of patriotism is a common attribute among the citizens of a country, while some believe that it has a poetic quality, making it a suitable topic for poets to explore. E.
E. E. Cummings expressed his perspective on patriotism through a poem that, initially, may appear disordered and bewildering.
E. E. Cummings expressed his views on patriotism by using a particular style, tone, and diction in his poem. Overall, the poem suggests that the poet sees little value in patriotism.
According to Cummings, the poem proposes that the poet has no justification for accepting such foolishness. Cummings uses quotations in the poem, with no breaks for the reader. The absence of pauses creates a sense of a continuous, convoluted path, with various opposing concepts jumbled together. This feeling is further accentuated by the lack of punctuation and capitalizatio
...n. The poem's flow is rigid and perplexing, resembling one long sentence. As a result, the concepts in the poem appear clustered and inconsistent.
Cummings discusses the concept of beauty and then quickly shifts to discussing heroic individuals who are willing to sacrifice themselves without hesitation. These individuals, often soldiers, go to war for the supposed honor it brings. The use of these themes throughout the poem contributes to the overall tone, which can be perceived as detached and even sarcastic.
The manner in which Cummings employs expressions like "...and so on..."
. The poem uses a sarcastic tone as the poet continually emphasizes certain thoughts, such as the combination of simple words like "deaf" and "dumb" to form "deafanddumb". This tone is reflected in the poem's diction.
Cummings' patriotic stance is reinforced by his use of America
historical phrases such as the national anthem and My Country 'Tis of Thee. However, his sarcastic tone and choice of words nullify the intended patriotic feeling. Cummings' distaste for patriotism is highlighted through his depiction of soldiers as "heroic happy dead" rushing in like lions, a representation of courage and fearlessness. Cummings further criticizes military recruitment schemes to gain young men for war and his views on this matter are clear.
Patriotism refers to the affection and loyalty towards one's nation, and it is often portrayed in a poetic manner. People showcase their devotion for their country through various means. The poem by E. E. Cummings explicitly conveys his unfavorable stance on patriotism.
Cummings utilizes his personal style, tone, and vocabulary to establish a coherent rhythm in his poem that conveys his perspective.
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