Yet Do I Marvel Questions and Answers
by Countée Porter

The classical allusions in Countee Cullen’s poem “Yet Do I Marvel” contribute effectively to the poem in a number of ways. In lines 5-8 of the poem, the speaker alludes to the classical myths of...

A figure of speech is a type of language that is not literal. In this case, the poem takes on many meanings. It is common to use figurative language like metaphors in a sonnet. This beautiful...

Countee Cullen published his wonderful little sonnet "Yet Do I Marvel" in 1925. He opens his poem by acknowledging that God is "good, well-meaning, kind" and then proceeds to declare that if God...

"Yet Do I Marvel" by Countee Cullen focuses on the wonder of God's creation and design by focusing on several examples along the way. Even though the speaker may not understand the purpose or...

To the extent that the poet is asking for something, he is asking for understanding. He wants to know why God would do various things, like making/allowing Tantalus to be punished or, at the end...

Countee Cullen's short poem "Yes Do I Marvel" contains two classical allusions, both to notorious criminals in the mythical world. The first, Tantalus, was doomed to always be "tantalized" (the...

In this poem, the speaker seems to be a Black man who is pondering the mysteries of God's creation and his own creation specifically. He claims not to doubt that "God is good, well-meaning, kind,"...

In this sonnet, Cullen is expressing some of his own pain against the lack of parity between the different elements of God's creation. He sets out by saying that he does not doubt that God means...

Countee [Porter] Cullen’s poem “Yet Do I Marvel” expresses his intrigue with God. It is easy to see the poet at his desk and in his chair thinking. He wonders to himself and then on paper: “ I...

I think that by withholding the speaker's race until the last line, Cullen is able to conceal the main point of the poem and thereby make it more of a surprise. As a reader goes through the poem,...

To me, Cullen's poem shows an acceptance of fate, but one tinged with regret. I don't really see anger or celebration but more or resignation. To understand why, look at all the things he compares...