Answer :
Pan is the Greek god of the wild, shepherds and flocks. It has hindquarters, legs and horns of a goat. In the poem balloonman is pretty much like Pan because the poem states that balloonman is goat-footed. In the poem Balloon man whistles and bettyandisbel come dancing. Pan likes rustic music and impromptus and it is companion of the nymphs so it is also alike to Ballooman. When the poem says that it is spring and the goat-footed Balloonman whistles far and wee, it shows that it is delighted with the season. Pan is also playful. It likes music as well. Pan is also associated to fertility and spring is also linked to fertility.
Balloonman is unique because whistles far and wee. However the god Pan also likes music and impromptus. Perhaps Pan also likes to whistle. The poem says that Balloonman is a little lame character which makes him unique. I
Final answer:
The poem "In Just-" connects to the myth of Pan through the 'goat-footed' balloonman, who reflects Pan's musical and playful nature amidst spring. E.E. Cu-mmings crafts an original character type by combining aspects of a town crier, the mythical Pan, and a modern, whimsical presence.
Explanation:
The connection between the poem "In Just-" by E. E. Cu-mmings and the myth of Pan lies in the character of the balloonman, who is described with attributes reminiscent of the Greek god of the wild, shepherds, and flocks. Pan is known for his musical ability to play the flute and his part-man, part-goat physical form, which the poem references as 'goat-footed' in the last stanza. These descriptions, combined with the joyous and playful spirit that the balloonman brings to the children, evoke Pan's role as a symbol of natural and spirited life, as well as the mischief and fun he is associated with, particularly within the theme of spring, a time of renewal and vibrancy.
The poet created an original character type in the balloonman by fusing the archetypical figures of the town crier and the mythical Pan with a modern twist. The balloonman here is portrayed as a whimsical figure, one who brings joy and heralds the change of seasons. He is at once a quaint, almost pitiable character with his lameness, but also a figure of intrigue and otherworldliness due to his repeated and dreamlike whistling. This blend creates a complex character that captures the reader's imagination and evokes both the mundane and the fantastical, distinguishing him as a unique invention within the poet's verse.
