A full line by line analysis, including tone and themes, of the poem Somewhere I have never travelled by E.E.Cummings for Grade 12 NSC examinations in English Home Language.
Title repeated in 1st line – cummings was an unorthodox poet – many believe he didn’t even give it a
title so the 1st line was taken as the title.
Enjambment throughout the poem – allows his ideas to flow.
The poem was written for the poets second wife. It can be deduced that he didn’t enjoy his first
marriage so much. But this 2nd wife he loved so much and she loved him. She has a sort of
power/control over him and he likes that she has this control over him – it brings joy to him. He
speaks of her beauty through seasons.
line 1: I is in small letters – grammatically incorrect – he is unorthodox and shows his extreme
devotion to his lover. He places her above everything else. Somewhere – anywhere (not specific).
Travelled – journey- an emotional journey. The poet is going to tell us a story about a journey. Gladly
– he enjoyed the journey
Line 2: your – it is a journey he is taking with someone else. He has never experience a journey like
this before. Personification – eyes, silent – senses are brought in (synaesthesia) – sight and sound
are mixed. There is no need for her to say anything. Everything he needs to know; he can read it in
her eyes. He can see her overwhelming love
Line 3: gesture -sense of touch. Frail -small, small, gentle and feminine. Enclose – it overtakes and
overpowers him. He is immersed in her love when he looks into her eyes.
Line 4: too near – her closeness makes him too vulnerable. Total immersion of love. Cannot touch –
mysterious unknown power of love, he is afraid of what will happen. Paradox – too near, cannot
touch. When something is near you should be able to touch it.
Stanza 2
Line 5: he is able to open up to her. Unclose – made up word by the poet – means to take down his
emotional barriers. Her slightest loom can break them down
Line 6: closed fingers – he had closed himself off from all types of love
Line 7: spring – capital letters to show the power of spring. In spring – his fingers are closed like a
bud, but with the full force of spring, the bud is forced to bloom (petal by petal). It will gradually turn
into a fully formed flower likewise, the power of her love will be able to open him up fully, gradually.
Petal by petal – a gradual process. It is done with a feeling of joy – he is willing to receive her love
unlike where spring compels the rose to open.
Line 8: brackets – extra info. Touching skilfully, mysteriously -she has the skill and power to be gentle
with him. Comma -draws importance to the 2 words – of the power she has over him – total control.
First rose – refers to the bud turning into a rose
Stanza 3:
Line 9: close – the power of her love – she can open him to he love and close him as well – shows the
control she has over him
Line 10: beautifully – the power she has is a positive thing. He is accepting it willingly.
Line 11/12: personification of the flower imagining. Heart -metaphorical. Seasonal imagery – snow –
winter. The rose – from bud to flower in spring. If the power she has over him is to close him, he will
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