My Sweet Old Etcetera 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 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 lines to answer the question. What interpretation does the poet’s description of his aunt support? (1 point) Responses The poet feels that war is necessary to make the world safe for democracy. The poet feels that war is necessary to make the world safe for democracy. The poet makes a statement about the importance of his family and their support for the war. The poet makes a statement about the importance of his family and their support for the war. The poet makes a statement about the contrast between giving support and taking action. The poet makes a statement about the contrast between giving support and taking action. The poet feels that the public perception of the war is inaccurate and that the reality is much different.

1 answer

The best interpretation supported by the poet’s description of his aunt is: The poet feels that the public perception of the war is inaccurate and that the reality is much different.

This interpretation aligns with the poem's themes, as it highlights the disconnection between what people might say about the war and what it truly entails. The phrase "my sweet old etcetera" suggests a simplification or glossing over of complex realities, indicating that the poet is critiquing superficial understandings of the war rather than endorsing it or presenting a straightforward narrative of family support or necessity.