Question

Consider the poem in Just by E.E. Cunnings. Then, in a response of two well developed paragraphs, explain the connection between the poem and Greek myth, before describing how the two works differ.

in Just
By E.E. Cunnings

in Just

spring when the world is mud

luscious the little

lame balloon man

whistles far and wee

and eddie and bill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

when the world is puddle wonderful

the queer

old balloon man whistles

far and wee

and betty and disbel come dancing

from hopscotch and jump rope and

it's

spring

and

the

goat footed

balloon Man whistles

far

and

wee

Answer 1

This line connects “In Just-” and Greek mythology: “The goat-footed balloon man." This line could reference Pan. Pan, in Greek mythology, is the god of the wild. He is known to play panpipes and lurk in forests. Pan is a half-man, half-goat breed with horns and goat feet. Another connection between the two is spring. Pan is the god of the wild, meaning the god of nature, including spring. Further, in the Greek myth, Pan is seen most of the time in spring, indicating his love for it. These relations show how “In Just-” and Greek mythology connect to one another.

Although there are a couple of references to Greek mythology in this piece, they still have clear differences. In Pan, the Greek myth, he is known to lure people in with his music. Furthermore, he and his music are known to be irresistible and lure people into their demise. In “In Just-," however, it’s about spring and joy; there is no dark meaning behind it like Pan, the god of the wild. Another key difference is that Pan is a creature, half man, half goat, but in the Ballon Man, the reference can lead to the Ballon Man limping. That’s why the line “The goat-footed balloon man" can refer to his limping.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The poem "in Just" by E.E. Cunnings is connected to Greek myth through the reference to the "goat-footed balloon man." This is likely a reference to the Greek god Pan, who was depicted with the legs and horns of a goat. In Greek mythology, Pan was the god of the wild, shepherds, and flocks, and was often depicted playing music on his pipes.

However, while the poem and Greek myth both feature the figure of the goat-footed balloon man/Pan, they differ in their portrayal of him. In the poem, the balloon man is described as "queer" and "old," and is depicted as a playful and joyful presence in the springtime. In contrast, in Greek myth, Pan is typically portrayed as a mischievous and sometimes dangerous figure, with a reputation for causing panic and disorder. The poem's portrayal of the balloon man as a benign and playful figure is thus quite different from the traditional portrayal of Pan in Greek myth.