Unit-14 Who are you, little i
E.E. Cummings
Summary
The poem talks about a childhood experience of enjoying the beauty of sunset. We see a little child who is perhaps five or six years old. He is looking outside from a high window, watching the sunset. The sun looks golden at this time of the day in the month of November. This scene of setting sun signals the end of day. After a while night must come. The child feels this beautiful scene of golden sunset is a good way to end the day. It is a joyful moment, whoever this child might be.
Theme
The poem is a praise of nature. Natural beauty creates joy and meaning in our short life. Children are simple and innocent, so they can enjoy life more. They feel happiness in things that grown-up people may fail to see.
Questions
What can be the relationship between “little i” and the speaker of the poem?
The speaker and the ‘little i’ in the poem could be the same person. This ‘little i’ seems to be the child who has now grown up. The speaker uses ‘i’ and it refers to himself. If it was another child, the speaker would not say ‘i’.
Who can be the speaker of this poem?
The speaker is a grown-up person looking back in his childhood. It looks as if he is a different person now. That is why he asks himself ‘who are you?’ He is surprised that a setting sun would engage him as a child.
What attitude does the speaker seem to have toward the child in the poem?
The speaker seems to show an attitude of surprise toward the child. The child is watching a scene of setting sun. He is simple-minded and can find beauty in such a common thing that the grown-up speaker would fail to see.
How does nature inspire the speaker in the poem? Explain.
Nature reminds the speaker about the role of natural beauty in life. A beautiful November sunset is still clear in his memory. Its effect is clear on him. He describes the scene by writing a poem to inspire others.This watching experience inspires the speaker to search for other similar moments. It also helps him see meaning in this short life. Because of that joyful moment he lived as a child, he learns that if night must come, the beautiful sunset is a good way to end the day.
