My Sweet Old Etcetera

Question

by E.E.Cummings

my sweet old etcetera

aunt lucy during the recent

war could and what

is more did tell you just

what everybody was fighting

for, my sister

Isabel created hundreds

(and hundreds) of socks not to

mention fleaproof earwarmers

etcetera wristers etcetera, my

mother hoped that

i would die etcetera

bravely of course my father used

to become hoarse talking about how it was

a privilege and if only he

could meanwhile my

self etcetera lay quietly

in the deep mud etcetera

(dreaming, etcetera, of Your smile eyes knees and of your Etcetera)

"my sweet old etcetera". Copyright 1926, 1954, (c) 1991 by the Trustees for the E. E. Cummings Trust. Copyright (c) 1985 by George James Firmage, from COMPLETE POEMS: 1904-1962 by E. E. Cummings, edited by George J. Firmage. Used by permission of Liveright Publishing Corporation.

Question
Use the poem to answer the question.

What interpretation can be supported based on the poet’s decision to describe how each of his family members views the war? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

The poet stresses the overall uselessness of violence and war.
The poet stresses the overall uselessness of violence and war.

The poet is showing the contrast between the perception of war and its reality.
The poet is showing the contrast between the perception of war and its reality.

The poet indicates his own views using capitalization to rank importance.
The poet indicates his own views using capitalization to rank importance.

The poet is mocking the glorification of war as noble and necessary.
The poet is mocking the glorification of war as noble and necessary.

The poet reveals the favoritism he shows toward some family members.

Answer 1

Based on the poem "My Sweet Old Etcetera" by E.E. Cummings, the two correct interpretations that can be supported are:

1. The poet stresses the overall uselessness of violence and war.
   The poem illustrates how various family members perceive war in superficial or trivial ways, which suggests a critique of the glorification and perceived nobility often associated with war.

2. The poet is showing the contrast between the perception of war and its reality.
   The differing views of each family member highlight the disconnect between the romanticized notions of war versus the grim reality, especially evident in the speaker's stark position of "laying quietly in the deep mud."

These interpretations reflect the poet's use of contrasting perspectives within his family to convey deeper themes about war.