The Poetry of e.e. cummings Essay - 3340 Words

The Poetry of e.e. cummings The poems to come are for you and for me and are not for most people. --its no use trying to pretend that mostpeople and ourselves are alike. Mostpeople have less in common with ourselves than the squarerootofminusone. You and I are human beings;mostpeople are snobs. Take the matter of being born. What does being born mean to mostpeople? Catastrophe unmitigated. Socialrevolution. The cultured aristocrat yanked out of his hyperexclusively ultravoluptuous superpalazzo, and dumped into an incredibly vulgar detentioncamp swarming with every conceivable species of undesirable organism. Mostpeople fancy a guaranteed birthproof safetysuit of nondestructible selflessness. If mostpeople were to be born twice†¦show more content†¦They miss his satirical views, his beautiful observations, and his skillful choice of words. This lack of respect for the importance of individual words prompted Cummings attack of most people. His bitterness is directly related to his struggle to get this particular collection of poetry--his seventh--published. Edward Estlin Cummings has always had an affinity for language. Early in life he penned a couplet, which illustrates his reliance on the power of simple observation: O, the pretty birdie, O; with his little toe,toe,toe! (Norman, 1958, p. 26) This appreciation for ones ability to observe and interpret was influenced by Cummings upbringing. Born on October 14, 1894, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Edward Estlin had the gift of caring, intelligent, progressive parents. His father, Edward, graduated from Harvard in 1883, with a degree in philosophy. He then studied at Oxford, with the Reverend Samuel A. Barnett and Professor Estlin Carpenter (who made enough of an impression on the young Edward to cause him to choose to name his son after him.) Edward Cummings went on to teach political economy and sociology at Harvard until 1900. His instruction was praised with the following commendation: As a teacher at Harvard he was human, alert, and stimulating (Norman, p. 17). These attributes would eventuallyShow MoreRelatedEssay about E.E. Cummings: The Birth of Modern Poetry1882 Words   |  8 Pageslove, and life. Like a great poet, E.E. Cummings employed his past experiences in his poetry and life. Known as one of the preeminent p oets of the 20th century, E.E. Cummings poetry has received an array of both positive and negative criticism. Nonetheless, Cummings’s poetry has inspired many poets and authors with his liberal views on love, nature, and religion along with his modern writing style. Although many criticized his contemporary style, E.E. Cummings modernized the traditional views ofRead More Visual Effects Created By E.E. Cummings In His Poetry Essay1126 Words   |  5 PagesVisual Effects Created By E.E. Cummings In His Poetry Edward Estlin Cummings, commonly referred to as E. E. Cummings, was born on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a source of vast knowledge and was responsible for many creative works other than his poetry, such as novels, plays, and paintings. He published his first book of poetry Tulips and Chimneys in 1923. Many of his poems are known for the visual effects they create through his unusual placement of words on the pageRead More Modernist Poets E.E. Cummings, Wallace Stevens, and T.S. Eliot Change the Face of American Poetry1710 Words   |  7 PagesModernist Poets E.E. Cummings, Wallace Stevens, and T.S. Eliot Change the Face of American Poetry Modernist poets such as E.E. Cummings, Wallace Stevens, and T.S. Eliot changed the face of American poetry by destroying the notion that American culture is far inferior to European culture. These and other American poets accomplished the feat of defining an American poetic style in the Modern Era by means of a truly American idea. That idea is the melting pot. Just as American culture exists asRead MoreHe was made famous for his unique poetry about sex and immature topics E.E. Cummings is the name of500 Words   |  2 PagesHe was made famous for his unique poetry about sex and immature topics E.E. Cummings is the name of this poet who lived from 1894 through 1962. Cummings was a unique person with an equally unique life and unsuccessful love life that shaped his award winning unique writing style. E.E. Cummings was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 3rd, 1962. Cummings’ dad was a professor at Harvard who turned into a Unitarian pasture. His mother had encouraged Cummings to write and to always keep a journalRead MorePoet Portrait: E.E. Cummings Essay1119 Words   |  5 PagesPoet Portrait: e.e. cummings Introduction: One might not think a renowned poet would speak of making a mark in a toilet in his attempt to make his mark on the world, but e.e. cummings was no ordinary poet. e.e. cummings was a famous poet of the 20th century; is unique style in his poems helped him become the second most commonly known and read poet in the United States during his lifetime (â€Å"E.E. Cummings†). Being raised in a well-educated, literary family; Cummings had a strong background toRead MoreE.E. Cummings and His Wondrous Works634 Words   |  3 PagesEdward Estlin Cummings was born on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cummings began writing his poems as early as ten years old. His unique ideas and various poetic devices that were included in his poetry induced him to be one of the most remembered poets of modern day time. E.E. Cummings was an intriguing poet that is known for many poetic ideas. Among them, Cummings was known for his ability to create meaning using structure and his avant ga rde approach towards language. In his workRead MoreAnalysis Of E. Ee Cummings1103 Words   |  5 PagesEdward Estlin Cummings, better known as E.E. Cummings was an American poet whose experimentation lead to innovative, unique pieces of literature. Involving â€Å"language of the streets† as well as â€Å"eccentric punctuation and phrases† allowed him to develop his own personal style which differed greatly from the traditional style of poetry (The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica 1). Known for his concise and sparing works of literature, Cummings’ recognizable style is displayed in his works not only inRead MoreE.E. Cummings Edward Estlin Cummins was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1894 and800 Words   |  4 PagesE.E. Cummings Edward Estlin Cummins was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1894 and died on September 3, 1962 in, New Hampshire. He was 67 and was buried at Forest hills Cemetery. He was married twice very briefly, his first wife was Elaine Orr, but their marriage started off as a love affair in 1918 while she was also married to Scofirled Thayer, one of Cummings friend from Harvard. During the course of their marriage Cummings wrote a lot of erotic poetry. During the affair theyRead MoreEssay about E.E. Cummings612 Words   |  3 PagesEdward Estlin Cummings is a famous poet and novelist. A true man of the arts, he also enjoyed playwrights, painting, and drawing. His lifetime lasting from 1894-1962 was vivaciously lived! He spent a large portion of his life in his birth state, Massachusetts, although certain life events lead him beyond the United States. Cummings served in the U.S. Army during World War I, and was a volunteer in an ambulance unit as well. A great portion of his life was also dedicated to his Harvard educationRead MoreRobert Frost and E.E. Cumings Essay1533 Words   |  7 PagesRobert Frost and E.E. Cummings Poetry is considered to be a representational text in which one explores ideas by using symbols. Poetry can be interpreted many different ways and is even harder to interpret when the original author has come and gone. Poetry is an incredible form of literature because the way it has the ability to use the reader as part of its own power. In other words, poetry uses the feelings and past experiences of the reader to interpret things differently from one to another