Simplicity of Beauty: E.E. Cummings Poem Analysis

Cole Ellicott
Poetry
Due: Monday, April 29th, 2013

The Simplistic Beauty of Life Anyone lived in a pretty how town suggests that many people live their own lives without worrying about social interactions in an attempt to attain their own personal goals and live individually. Using the story of a town in which a couple demonstrates individuality, the citizens of the lonely town coexist while keeping to themselves. It is hard for those who are seen as different to live in a conformist society. Subjects such as love, life, time and death show up frequently to illustrate the many dimensions and viewpoints of the various characters in the poem. Slowly the protagonists are described as they grow up and love and live together, get married and eventually the husband dies and his wife continues living her life. Throughout the poem, the author, E.E. Cummings, uses a variety of themes and literary techniques. The author uses rhythm to form a smooth package, while the unusual diction attempts to disguise the simplicity of the tale. Finally, the metaphor of the passing time demonstrates the importance of living one’s own life as they see fit in order to maximize their achievements and happiness. All in all, the themes and devices elaborately used in “anyone lived in a pretty how town” combine together to form what is a very simple, yet well written story.

Right from the start it is clear that there is a catchy, silver-tongued rhythm in which the poem is best read. The rhyming helps to identify the unique quality of the rhythm. While not all stanzas are alike in rhythmic patterns, there is almost always one set of rhymes found within each stanza. For example, in the first stanza, “town” (1) and “down” (2) rhyme, although those are the only rhymes. In the second stanza, however, “small” and “all” rhyme as well as “same” and “rain”. This shows the different uses of rhymes to illustrate the poem’s variety of tones and viewpoints. In terms of the rhyming schemes it is more often than not the last words of the lines that rhyme. Due to the use of sporadic rhyming configurations, the poem possesses a distinctive feel and quality. The interesting aspect about “anyone lived in a pretty how town” is how smooth and song-like it can be read. Almost like a song with many rhymes, such as an abstract rap, this poem can be read with the same intonation and vibe. This gives a more carefree and relaxing nature, making it easier to understand if listened to, rather than read.

The second thing the reader notices when beginning the poem is the very unusual diction within the stanzas. At first it is a surprising realization, as it is a truly one-of-a-kind way of writing poetry. Even for Cummings, this is a very unusual style of poetry. “anyone lived in a pretty how town” is written using pronouns and nouns in a very nonsensical manner. To help explain the very original and unique sentence, some examples are needed. “Anyone lived in a pretty how town/(with up so floating many bells down)/spring summer autumn winter/he sang his didn’t/he danced his did” (Cummings, 1-4). This is a prime example of how the poet used pronouns as a replacement for certain words. This technique adds a fresh dynamic to the poem. In the first four lines, the author is referring to “Anyone” as a person. This is shown as the fourth line of the first stanza goes “He sang his didn’t/he danced his did” (4). This must be related to “Anyone” from the first line. Another example of the odd diction is the way in which the words are placed. Instead of saying something like children guessed that people liked “Anyone” less and less, and they forgot about him as they grew up, the poem reads “children guessed (but only a few/and down they forgot as up they grew […] (9-10). One aspect about the poem is how the varied positioning of the words, let alone the word choice, somehow disguises the true meaning of the poem, and complicates the simplistic moral and plot of the story.

Finally, there is the extended metaphor that beautifully illustrates the plot of the story. As briefly mentioned above, it seems as though “Anyone” is actually a man, who married his “everyone”. This is seen in the fifth stanza “someones married their everyones” (17). They are using someone to refer to him, and the fact that she means everything to him is the reason that “everyones” was chosen to signify that specific woman, the one that “anyone” married. In essence, the story is using many pronouns instead of people’s names, as to generalize the story to whomever the reader thinks of while reading the poem. It is a story of growing up, meeting one’s significant other in childhood, then growing up and growing old. Eventually, “Anyone” passes on, and his wife continues to life her life (25). The storyline also makes reference to the other residents of the “pretty how town” and how everyone is living sequestered from other people and families, with the common goal of each living their own mediocre lives. This contrasts many aspects of today’s world, for modern day society is accepting of all cultures.

In conclusion, this story is meant to symbolize several things. The first is that in a conformist society, people have trouble understanding the abnormal. Those who see uniqueness view it as strange and wrong. Due to the sequestered nature of the “pretty how town”, when “Anyone” moved into town people saw him as different. Furthermore, this story makes light of the fact that in some places and situations, many people are very private and enjoy living their own lives free of some of the social norms placed on society. Many do not deviate from the path that they have defined for themselves in order to reach their desired goals. In some ways this eliminates distractions, although in others it can lead to close-mindedness and the inability to see things in multiple lights, as to develop a broader understanding of the world around them. The literary techniques applied throughout the poem have made it possible to not only read the poem with greater ease, but also enables the reader to decipher the possible meanings of the storyline and poem itself. With the help of the rhythm, diction and extended metaphors complementing each other and consequently smoothly forming the poem, “anyone lived in a pretty how town” is broken down and the true meaning of the story is understood and appreciated. While people enjoy living their own lives and staying focused to achieve their own goals and dreams, one must remember that balance is required in all aspects of life. Similarly, family, friends and community are also important to broaden our sense of the world and view things with an open mind.

Sources Cited:
Rukhaya, M.K. “Poetry Analysis: E.E. Cummings’ “Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town.” Yahoo. n.p. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2012.

Cited: Rukhaya, M.K. “Poetry Analysis: E.E. Cummings’ “Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town.” Yahoo. n.p. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2012.