maggie and milly and molly and may- Summary & Analysis

Table of Contents

Rate this Book

About the Poem “maggie and milly and molly and may”

Poem Title	maggie and milly and molly and may
Author	E. E. Cummings
Publication Year	First published in 1958 in the collection “95 Poems”
Style	Modernist poetry with experimental formatting
Theme	Exploration of childhood, imagination, and the sea
Structure	The poem consists of four quatrains (four-line stanzas).
Tone	Whimsical, nostalgic, and imaginative
Setting	The poem’s setting is primarily the beach, where the characters interact with the sea.
Characters	maggie: a young girl milly: her cousin molly: her friend may: another young girl
Key Events	The poem follows the adventures of the four girls at the beach, with each stanza focusing on a different girl’s encounter with the sea.
Key Imagery	The sea, shells, a dead jellyfish, a starfish, and a sea-urchin are significant symbols in the poem.

Themes of maggie and milly and molly and may

The poem “maggie and milly and molly and may” by E. E. Cummings explores themes of:

Childhood Adventures ➤ The poem captures the innocent and playful experiences of four young girls at the beach.
Imagination and Discovery ➤ It celebrates the imaginative and curious nature of children as they encounter the sea and its wonders.
Connection with Nature ➤ The poem emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world, highlighting how even small actions can have significance.
Individuality ➤ Each girl’s unique experience with the sea represents their distinct personalities and perspectives.

“maggie and milly and molly and may” Poem by E. E. Cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
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

maggie and milly and molly and may– Summary & Analysis

“maggie and milly and molly and may” is a poem written by E. E. Cummings that tells the story of four different girls who each have their own experiences by the sea. The poem explores the individuality of these girls and how they interact with the natural world.

In the poem, Maggie finds a shell, Milly discovers a starfish, Molly encounters a small dead fish, and May comes across a smooth stone. Each girl’s discovery reflects their unique personalities and interests. Maggie appreciates the beauty of the shell, Milly enjoys the softness of the starfish, Molly feels empathy for the dead fish, and May is drawn to the comforting touch of the stone.

The poem emphasizes the idea that we each have our own way of connecting with the world around us, and these connections reveal something about our character. It also suggests that the sea, with its vastness and variety, offers a wealth of experiences waiting to be explored.