Reflection of Life
E.E. Cummings was a distinctive, American poet, greatly influenced his literary achievements in poetry. This can be seen in the experiences of his early childhood. Cummings was born Edward Estlin Cummings in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Oct. 14, 1894. He was born into wealthy and creative surroundings. Dr. Cummings was a woodsman, a photographer, an actor, a carpenter, an artist and talented in all the work he dabbled in. Mrs. Cummings however was a shy woman who overcame conventional influences to respond joyously and effectively to life. He also grew up in a rich neighborhood. He virtually grew up in Harvard Yard and was surrounded by the most traditional aspects of Cambridge culture. E.E. Cummings s parents not only provided him with creative surroundings, but also provided him with the best of educations. Cummings went to Cambridge High School and Latin School; he entered Harvard University in 1911 and remained there until 1916, when he received his Masters degree. It was during this time that E.E. Cummings was publishing his first poems for the Harvard Monthly Journal. After earning his Masters at Harvard, he then moved on to volunteering as an ambulance driver in France during WWII. From his experiences in La Ferte Mace, a detention
camp he accumulated material for his documentary novel, The Enormous Room. Which was one of the best war books by an American.
Cummings was married briefly twice. Cummings' first marriage, to Elaine Orr, began as a love affair in 1918 while she was married to Scofield Thayer, one of Cummings' friends from Harvard. The affair produced a daughter, Nancy, born on December 20, 1919. Nancy was Cummings' only child. After divorcing Thayer, Elaine married Cummings on March 19, 1924. However, the marriage ended after two months and they were divorced less than nine months later. Elaine left Cummings for a wealthy Irish banker, moved to Ireland, and took Nancy with her. Under the terms of the divorce...