
e.e. cummings By Alex Bowen
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
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Interesting Facts • Cummings has been writing poems since he was 4 • He traveled the world. • He was also a painter.
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.