e.e. cummings

1. e.e. cummings By Alex Bowen

2. Maggie and milly and molly and may maggie and milly and molly and may went down to the beach(to play one day) and maggie discovered a shell that sang so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and milly befriended a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were; and molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and may came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone. For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

3. Birth and Schooling • Cummings was born October 14, 1984 in Cambridge Massachusetts. • He lived in Massachusetts his entire life and went to Harvard there for 4 years. • He received a bachelor’s degree in 1915 and a master’s degree the following year. • He died September 3, 1962.

4. Relationships • Cummings had an affair with Schofield Thayer’s, his best friend, wife. • Schofield gave him his consent to do that. • He ended up her and adopting her child.

5. Theme • The theme of “maggie and milly and molly and may” was that life can have various aspects to it. • “milly befriended a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were” • That quote shows that one aspect in life is creating relationships with different people.

6. Poetic Devices • The 3 poetic devices used in this poem are: • Alliteration : “Maggie and millie and molly and may” • Rhyme: “For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea” • Simile: “May came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone.”

7. Interesting Facts • Cummings has been writing poems since he was 4 • He traveled the world. • He was also a painter.

8. Works Citied "Maggie and Milly and Molly and May." Poetry for Students. Ed. Jennifer Smith and Elizabeth Thomason. Vol. 12. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. 148-167. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 June 2014.