E.E. cummings

poems with unconventional punctuation and capitalization, and unusual

line, word, and even letter placements - namely, ideograms. Cummings'

most difficult form of prose is probably the ideogram; it is extremely

terse and it combines both visual and auditory elements. There may be

sounds or characters on the page that cannot be verbalized or cannot

convey the same message if pronounced and not read. Four of Cummings'

poems - l(a, mortals), !blac, and swi( - illustrate the ideogram form

quite well. Cummings utilizes unique syntax in these poems in order to

convey messages visually as well as verbally.

Although one may think of l(a as a poem of sadness and

loneliness, Cummings probably did not intend that. This poem is about

individuality - oneness (Kid 200-1). The theme of oneness can be

derived from the numerous inezces and forms of the number '1'

throughout the poem. First, 'l(a' contains both the number 1 and the

singular indefinite article, 'a'; the second line contains the French

singular definite article, 'le'; 'll' on the fifth line represents two

ones; 'one' on the 7th line spells the

. . .

In mortals), Cummings vitalizes a trapeze act on paper. New

York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. This poem is an amusing one, as it shows the effects of a trapeze

act within the arrangement of the words. Cummings had written a letter

concerning !blac to Robert Wenger, author of The Poetry and Prose of

E. In doing this, he feels contentment, and thus retains the

poem's idea for a more extended period of time. Reading this poem, one may realize the lone

comma on line 12. 'll'

indicates a quick drop of the leaf, which has slowed by a longer line,

'one'. swi( contains less symbolism

than the other poems being analyzed, but it is similar in that the

syntax adds greatly to the poem. This is a sign that

Cummings is trying to emphasize the concept of self-importance (Tri

36). On line 10, the space in the

word 'open ing' indicates the act beginning, and the empty, static

moment before it has fully begun. Lines 2 and 4, 'climbi' and

'begi', both end leaving the letter 'i' exposed.

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Approximate Word count = 1412
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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