A Stylistic Analysis of
“maggie and milly and
molly and may”
Before delving into the analysis of the poem "maggie and milly and molly
and may," it is essential to provide a brief introduction to the renowned
writer E. E. Cummings and his unique style of experimental poetry.
Cummings (1894-1962) was an American poet known for his
unconventional approach to language and his distinct poetic methods.
_maggie and milly and molly and may_
1
Lines 1-2
maggie and milly and molly and
Lines 3-4
2
sang
3
her troubles, and
Lines 7-8
went down to the beach (to play
one day)
maggie discovered a shell that
so sweetly she couldn't remember
may
Lines 5-6
milly befriended a stranded star
4
whose rays five languid fingers
were;
molly was chased by a horrible
thing
which raced sideways while
5
blowing bubbles: and
Lines 9-10
may came home with a smooth
round stone
Lines 11-12
6
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
The poem "maggie and milly and molly and may" follows an AABCDDEFGGHH rhyme scheme,
with lines 3-4 and 7-8 deviating from the pattern. However, there is a parallelism between lines 37 and 4-8, both ending in "troubles, and" and "bubbles, and" respectively.
A Stylistic Analysis at the
Phonological Level
1
Nursery Rhyme-like Quality
2
Rhyme
The poem exhibits a rhythmic and
At the phonological level, the poem
musical quality reminiscent of nursery
employs various forms of rhyme,
rhymes, achieved through the abundant
including end rhyme and internal
use of alliteration. Examples include
rhyme. Examples include "may-day,"
"maggie and milly and molly and may,"
"stone-alone," and "me-sea." In terms
"so sweetly," "stranded star," "five
of meter, the poem follows a pattern of
languid fingers," "blowing bubbles," and
stressed and unstressed syllables, with
"a smooth round stone."
the iambic foot as the basic unit.
Analysis at the Morphological Level
1
Words Reflecting Children's World
This poem utilizes words associated with the world of children and their interests. Through
these words, the poem evokes a sense of childhood fascination with toys and the beach.
Examples include "beach," "sea," "stranded," "star," "shell," "sing," "horrible thing," "round
stone," "bubbles," "blowing," "sang," "remember troubles," "befriended," and "chased."
Analysis at the Syntactic Level
1
Grammatical Deviations
This poem showcases various grammatical deviations. For instance, in line 11, "Like
a you or me," the word order misclassifies "you" and "me" as heads of noun phrases.
Additionally, the use of "alone" as an object of comparison deviates from
conventional syntax. Furthermore, the poem features fragmentation and parenthesis,
as seen in phrases like "to play one day" and "like a you or a me." Parallel structures
are also prevalent throughout the poem.
Analysis at the Graphological Level
1
Graphological Deviations
Capitalization plays a significant role in Cummings' poetry, often deviating from
regular rules. In this poem, numerous examples of graphological deviation can be
observed, such as "maggie, milly, molly and may" starting lines without capitalization,
and the stylistic use of punctuation. These graphological elements further contribute
to the unique visual appearance of the poem.
Figurative Use of Language
1
Metaphors and Simile
The poem employs metaphors and a simile to convey its meaning. The line "It's
always ourselves we find in the sea" metaphorically represents the journey of selfdiscovery in the vastness of life's challenges. Furthermore, the line "Whose rays five
languid fingers were" metaphorically describes the appearance of the stranded star.
The simile "as small as a world and as large as alone" compares the size of the
smooth round stone to the vastness of solitude.
Recognizing Poetic Patterns
Analyzing poems through the lens of stylistics allows us to identify patterns of alliteration,
repetition, and their contributions to meaning and interpretation. By scrutinizing the choice of words
and their effects on the poem's mood and attitude, we gain a deeper understanding of the poem's
distinct features and characteristics. Each poem holds its own unique qualities that can be
explored through stylistic analysis.