E. Cummings Impact On The Literary World

1138 Words3 Pages

Phillip Prescott
Mrs. Cox
English I Honors - Pd. 5
20 November 2015
E.E. Cummings
The American poet who inspires millions to be the best poet they can be and to look below the surface of a poem is someone to admire.The illustrious poet has made himself known through about 2900 poems and multiple other works (E. E. Cummings Biography). The impact he made will never be forgotten. He is mostly known for just his poems. Many people do not know how he ended up choosing poetry or how he lived his life. His story is much more than one would think. His life was a roller coaster of wars and loves. Edward Estlin Cummings’ impact on the literary world will always be remembered by all. Cummings has inspired many people to pursue poetry as an occupation …show more content…

He was born on the 14th of October 1894 (E. E. Cummings' Life). Cummings and his sister, Elizabeth, grew up in Cambridge, MA. His sister was born into the family in 1901 (E. E. Cummings Biography). His whole family was well educated and he was very smart himself. His father was constantly repairing things with the help of little Estlin. Cummings’ parents were fully supportive of his creative mind. His mother read poems to him and his sister. His mother also encouraged his sister and him write poems every day as exercise for the mind. The first poem he wrote was at the age of three. When Cummings’ would go away, he would be required to write back home in the form of poems rather than regular letters. Cummings’ parents made a huge impact on him. They are one of the main reasons he grew up to be a poet. His life in a developing city also made it easy for him to find inspiration for his many poems. The fact that his parents supported him and that he grew up in a normal family show how his early life was normal and one of the many reasons he decided to become a poet. After Cummings graduated his local high school, he decided he wanted to continue to write …show more content…

E. Cummings' Life). World War Two had a huge impact on Cummings’ life and his poetry. WWII started in 1939 and ended in 1945 (History of WW2). Although Cummings was already back in the US by the start of WWII, the war sparked the creation of some of his poems. He was anti-war which meant he was against the idea of war with anyone else. Cummings legally married three times and was thought to have an affair until he died (E.E. Cummings Biography). The women of his life included Scofield Thayer, Elaine Orr, Anne Minnerly Barton, and Marion Morehouse in that order. While Cummings was married to Taylor he had an affair with Orr. Then when Taylor found out about Orr, she divorced Cummings and left. Shortly after that divorce, Cummings married Orr. After two months Orr left Cummings for a wealthy Irish banker. A few years later, Cummings wed Barton until three years after the wedding she got a “Mexican Divorce.” Then a couple years later, Cummings met Morehouse and lived together until Cummings died in 1962. The events and relationships in Cummings’ life were a direct impact on his poetry and the deeper meanings of his poetry. Without the loves of his life coming and going, some of his poems would not be in existence. A good portion of his poetry is about

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