Grade-11, English Poems Who Are you, Little i? e.e. cummings

 

Grade-11, English

Poems

 

Who Are you, Little i?

E.E. Cummings

 

About the Poet

E.E. Cummings was an American poet, artist, and essayist known for his unique and experimental style of writing. He was born on October 14, 1894, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and grew up in a family of intellectuals. Cummings began writing poetry at a young age and went on to study at Harvard University, where he developed a love for modernist literature and art.  Cummings is perhaps best known for his unconventional use of punctuation, grammar, and syntax in his poetry, which often incorporated themes of love, nature, and spirituality. His work was heavily influenced by the experimental movements of his time, such as Cubism and Surrealism.

 

He wrote approximately 2900 poems, two authobiographical novels, four plays and several essays. Some of Cummings' most famous works include his poetry collections "Tulips and Chimneys," "XLI Poems," and "No Thanks," as well as his plays "Him" and "Santa Claus: A Morality." Throughout his career, Cummings received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to literature, including the Bollingen Prize and the National Book Award.

 

Cummings passed away on September 3, 1962, in North Conway, New Hampshire, United States leaving behind a legacy as one of the most innovative and influential poets of the 20th century.

 

About the Poem:

·       This poem describes a child looking out a window at the end of the day.

·       It is about nature and the effect it has on the speaker,

·       The speaeker is recalling a childhood moment closely connected with nature,

 

The poem "who are you, little i" is written by a poet named e.e. cummings. In this poem, the speaker is the poet himself, and he is talking to himself as a child. The poet is inspired by the beauty of a sunrise and it makes him feel like a child again. The sunrise is so beautiful that it helps him forget about the darkness that will come when night arrives.

 

The poet wonders who this child is and realizes that it is a part of himself. He is grateful that the beauty of the sunrise has reminded him of his inner child and he feels a sense of wonder and joy. The word "little i" is a pun, which means it has two meanings. It not only refers to the poet's inner child but also to the way a child sees the world, through his own "eye" or "i".

 

The poet has used a semicolon to separate the two parts of the poem. In the first part, he asks himself who he is, and in the second part, he describes the beauty of the sunrise and how it has made him feel. He believes that focusing on the beauty of nature is a wonderful way to live life and it helps to overcome the fear of darkness.

 

 Poem:

 who are you, little i

(five or six years old)

peering from some high

window; at the gold

of November sunset

(and feeling: that if day

has to become night

this is a beautiful way)

 

Explanation:

"Who are you, little i" is a poem by E.E. Cummings that explores the themes of individuality and the beauty of the world through the perspective of a child.

 

The poem begins by setting the scene of a child peering out of a high window, observing the golden hues of a November sunset. The child is described as "little i," emphasizing his small size and individuality in the larger world around him. The use of lowercase "i" also suggests a sense of humility and vulnerability.

 

As the child looks out at the beauty of the sunset, he feels a sense of awe and wonder at the way that day transitions into night. This transition, which can sometimes be viewed as a negative or scary thing, is instead seen as a beautiful and natural process. The child's appreciation for the beauty in this natural occurrence is a reminder of the importance of finding joy in the simple things in life.

 

Overall, the poem highlights the importance of individuality and embracing the beauty of the world around us. Cummings uses his signature style of unconventional punctuation and syntax to create a sense of childlike wonder and playfulness, inviting the reader to see the world through the eyes of a child and appreciate the beauty in the world around us.

 

Understanding the text:

Answer the following questions:

a. Who can be the speaker of the poem?

The speaker of the poem is not openly identified, but it is likely to be E.E. Cummings himself as he often wrote from a personal perspective.

 

b. What is "little I" doing?

"Little i", who is a metaphorical representation of the individual in the poem,  is observing the beauty of a November sunset from a high window.

 

c. What can be the reletionship between "little i" and the speaker of the poem?

The relationship between "little i" and the speaker is not clearly defined in the poem, but it can be inferred that they are one and the same, with the speaker using "little i" as a way to express their individuality.

d. What is the speaker remembering from his childhood days in the poem?

The speaker is remembering a childhood memory of observing a beautiful sunset from a high window. The memory seems to have had a profound impact on the speaker, as he recalls it in detail and use it to convey the beauty of the world.

e. What attitude does the speaker seem to have toward the child in the poem?

The speaker's attitude towards the child in the poem is one of wonder and appreciation. The child's perspective is seen as pure and uncorrupted, allowing him to appreciate the beauty of the world in a way that adults often cannot. The speaker seems to be trying to recapture this sense of wonder and innocence through the poem.

Reference to the text:

a. Why do you think Cummings has placed a semicolon between the words window and at?

Cummings has placed a semicolon between the words "window" and "at" to create a pause and draw attention to the beauty of the November sunset. The pause serves to highlight the significance of the moment and emphasizes the child's appreciation of the natural world.

 

b. If the speaker is the child grown up, why does he ask, "who are you"?

The speaker may be asking "who are you" as a way of reconnecting with his childhood self and the sense of wonder and individuality that he experienced at that time. By addressing his former self as a separate entity, the speaker is able to explore the themes of individuality and the beauty of the world from a fresh perspective.

c. In this poem, an adult reflects on the childhood experience. Based on that, what might be the theme of the lines: "(and feeling: that if day/has to become night/this is a beautiful way)"?

The theme of the lines "and feeling: that if day/has to become night/this is a beautiful way" is the appreciation of the natural cycles of life. The speaker is reflecting on the beauty of the sunset and the way it transitions into night, accepting the natural order of things and finding beauty in the inevitable process of change.

d. What is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?

The poem does not follow a traditional rhyme scheme, instead relying on the use of irregular line lengths and unconventional punctuation to create a sense of spontaneity and playfulness.

 

e. Explain the pun in "little i" that is related to what he is doing.

The pun in "little i" is related to the childlike sense of individuality that the speaker is trying to convey. The lowercase "i" is a symbol of individuality and the child's small size and vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's uniqueness in a world that can often be overwhelming.

 

f. How does Cummings's use of lowercase letters affect your understanding of the poem? Explain.

Cummings's use of lowercase letters creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, emphasizing the childlike perspective of the speaker and inviting the reader to connect with his own inner child. The lack of capitalization also suggests a rejection of traditional authority and conformity, reinforcing the theme of individuality and the importance of embracing one's own unique perspective.

Reference beyond the text:

a. How does nature inspire the speaker in "who are you little i"? Explain.

Nature inspires the speaker in "who are you little i" by providing a beautiful and awe-inspiring backdrop for his contemplation of the world. The November sunset is described as a "gold" color, evoking a sense of warmth and beauty that the speaker finds inspiring. The sunset also represents the natural cycle of life and the inevitability of change, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

 

b. Recall a childhood moment when you felt closely connected with nature. Describe the time and place as well as your feelings and thougths about it.

One childhood moment when I felt closely connected with nature was when I went on a camping trip with my family. We were in a remote area surrounded by trees and wildlife, and at night, the stars were incredibly bright and clear. I remember feeling a sense of wonder and amazement at the beauty of the natural world, and also a sense of smallness in the face of such vastness. It was a moment that made me feel both insignificant and incredibly alive.

c. Interpret the poem in any way you like.

The poem "who are you, little i" by e.e. cummings is a short and beautiful piece of poetry that speaks to our childlike sense of wonder, and the way that nature can inspire and provide beauty even in dark times.

At first, it might seem like the poem is about a parent watching a child looking out a window at the sunrise. But, as you read on, it becomes clear that the narrator is actually addressing his own inner child, the childlike wonder that lives within him.

 

The narrator has been struck by the beauty of a sunrise, and the wonder and inspiration it has brought him has caused him to remember how he used to feel when he was a child. He asks "Who are you, little i?" because it has been a long time since he has experienced this childlike sense of wonder. He is grateful that these feelings have reawakened within him.

The poem uses a pun in "little i" which is a play on words, as it not only refers to a specific aspect of the poet's personality, the childlike sense of wonder, but it also refers to seeing the world through the "eye" of a child.

The semicolon in the poem separates two parts. The first part, the poet asks his question, and in the second part, he goes on to further describe the sense of wonder he has experienced. The day turning into the dark night can be frightening to a child, and even to many adults, but the poet exclaims that contemplating the beauty of nature, such as this magnificent sunrise, is a "beautiful way" to live life and to keep away the darkness.

Overall, the poem is a reflection on how nature can inspire us and evoke a sense of wonder in us, no matter how old we are. It reminds us that we can always reconnect with our inner child and experience the beauty of life if we are open to it.