buffalo bill’s defunct. larger than life symbol of rugged america cowboy indian fighter buffalo...
TRANSCRIPT
Buffalo Bill’s defunct
Larger than life symbol of rugged Larger than life symbol of rugged AmericaAmerica
CowboyCowboyIndian fighterIndian fighterBuffalo hunterBuffalo hunterFounder-The Wild West ShowFounder-The Wild West Show
The most famous man in the The most famous man in the worldworld
William F. Cody – aka Buffalo BillWilliam F. Cody – aka Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bill’s defunct
A poem by
e e cummings
Buffalo Bill's defunct
who used to
ride a watersmooth-silver stallion
and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat
Jesus he was a handsome man
and what I want to know is
how do you like your blueeyed boy
Mister Death
Common theme- death claims all
Bill in action- breaking pigeonsjustlikethat
Vitality and speed- watersmooth-silver
“Handsome”- whole figure in action
The Poem Itself
Self-portrait of an admiring but disdainful speaker
Admires Bill’s skill and good looks
Humorous indifference to Bill’s death using the world “defunct”
Bill the DestroyerBill the Destroyer
Dreams of youth and Dreams of youth and innocenceinnocence
Hatred towards a culture that Hatred towards a culture that invites children to create invites children to create unworthy heroesunworthy heroes
Bill - hero and charlatanBill - hero and charlatan
Heroic deeds reduced to Heroic deeds reduced to circus stuntscircus stunts
Bill the Bill the DestroyerDestroyer
Childhood- innocent faith Childhood- innocent faith and wonderand wonder
Expectations of childhood Expectations of childhood and of Americaand of America
Irreverence towards deathIrreverence towards death““Mister Death”Mister Death”
Is Death a spectator at a Is Death a spectator at a performance?performance?
Does it now become a characterDoes it now become a character
Question asked of DeathQuestion asked of Death““How do you like your How do you like your
blueeyed boyblueeyed boy
Does Death stand as a fatherly Does Death stand as a fatherly figure for the blueeyed boy (Bill)figure for the blueeyed boy (Bill)
Bill as the destroyer- an agent of Bill as the destroyer- an agent of DeathDeath
Destroyed- the poet’s childhoodDestroyed- the poet’s childhood
Innocent faith and wonderInnocent faith and wonder
Disappointing both his Disappointing both his expectations of childhood and of expectations of childhood and of AmericaAmerica