NEB class 11 4th poem “Who are you, little i” By E.E. Cummings

4th poem                           

                          “Who are you, little i”

                                    By E.E. Cummings

“Who are you, little i” is a very short poem written by E.E. Cummings in the 20th century. The poem talks about a small “i” that is asking who it really is. It shows the idea of being small but important, and it reminds us to be proud of ourselves no matter how small we feel. The poem uses simple words but a special style that makes us think about identity and self-worth.

About the Poet

E.E. Cummings (1894–1962) was an American poet, painter, and essayist. He is famous for his unique style of writing poems, often using unusual punctuation, lowercase letters, and creative layouts. Cummings wrote about love, nature, and individuality. His work celebrates being different and thinking freely. He is considered one of the most important American poets of the 20th century.

Setting

The poem doesn’t have a specific place or time. It is more about an idea or feeling. The setting is inside the mind or heart, where the small “i” is thinking about who it really is. So, the setting is imaginary and personal.

Tone

The tone of the poem is gentle, curious, and hopeful. The small “i” asks questions about itself in a soft and innocent way. The poem feels encouraging, reminding us to accept ourselves and be proud no matter how small or different we are.

Main Themes

1. Identity

The poem talks about finding out who we really are inside, especially when we feel small or unsure.

2. Self-Acceptance

It encourages us to accept and be proud of ourselves, no matter what others think or how small we feel.

3. Individuality

The poem celebrates being unique and different from others.

4. Innocence and Curiosity

It shows a gentle and curious attitude about understanding oneself and the world.

Summary in short

The poem Who are you, little i is about a small “i” that asks who it really is. Even though the “i” is small, it is important and special. The poem tells us to be proud of ourselves, no matter how small or different we feel. It reminds us that everyone has their own value and identity. The poem is short but gives a strong message about believing in yourself and being unique.

Summary in detail

The poem Who are you, little i is a short but meaningful poem by E.E. Cummings. It talks about a small “i” that asks the question, “Who are you?” This small “i” represents a person who feels tiny or insignificant in the big world. Despite being small, the “i” is curious and confident. It wants to know its own identity and meaning.

The poem shows that even if someone feels small or less important, they still have value and strength inside. The “i” does not feel afraid or shy but instead is proud of itself. It says it is strong because it says “I,” which means it has a voice, a personality, and a presence.

Overall, the poem encourages us to believe in ourselves and accept our uniqueness. It teaches that no matter how small we seem, we all matter and have an important place in the world.

 Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Who can be the speaker of this poem?

The speaker is the poet himself. He talks like a little boy remembering his childhood.

b. What is “little i” doing?

The little “i” is watching the beautiful golden sunset through a window and feeling amazed by how day changes into night.

c. What can be the relationship between “little i” and the speaker of the poem?
The “little i” is the speaker’s younger self as a child. The speaker is the grown-up version of that child.

d. What is the speaker remembering from his childhood days in the poem?
He is remembering a beautiful moment from his childhood when he enjoyed watching the golden sunset and how the day turned into night.

e. What attitude does the speaker seem to have toward the child in the poem?
The speaker feels happy and nostalgic. He still feels the child’s joy inside him and that helps him enjoy nature even now.

Reference to the context

a. Why do you think Cummings has placed a semicolon between the words window and at?

Cummings used a semicolon between “window” and “at” to give a stronger pause in the sentence. It helps break the sentence clearly while keeping the thought connected. A semicolon works better than a comma here because the sentence is long and needs a clear pause without ending the sentence.

b. If the speaker is the child grown up, why does he ask, “who are you”?

Even though the speaker is the grown-up child, he asks “Who are you?” because he is trying to remember the feelings and wonder of his childhood. He may also be surprised that the childlike part of him is still alive inside, enjoying nature just like before.

c. In this poem, an adult reflects on the childhood experience. Based on that, what might be the theme of the lines:

“(and feeling: that if day / has to become night / this is a beautiful way)”?

These lines show the child’s feeling about the beautiful golden sunset and how day changes to night. The theme here can be about life and death—the day turning to night is like youth turning into old age or the end of life. It shows that even the end can be beautiful in its own way.

d. What is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?

The rhyme scheme is ABAB and CDCD, meaning the poem has a repeating pattern where the first and third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme.

e. Explain the pun in “little i” that is related to what he is doing.

The pun in “little i” has two meanings: it means the small letter “i” but also the eye that sees the world. It shows the childlike wonder of looking at the world (through the eye) and the small but important self (the “i”).

f. How does Cummings’s use of lowercase letters affect your understanding of the poem? Explain.

Using lowercase letters makes the poem feel more gentle and humble. It shows the smallness or softness of the child’s voice and feelings. It also reflects how the grown-up poet feels smaller or less powerful now compared to the joy and freedom he felt as a child.

Reference beyond the text

a. How does nature inspire the speaker in “Who are you, little i”? Explain.

Nature inspires the speaker deeply in this poem. The beautiful golden sunset makes him remember his childhood days when he was a little boy, around five or six years old. Watching the sunset and the changing sky reminds him of the peaceful and wonderful moments from his past. Nature helps him connect with those happy childhood memories and feelings. The natural change from day to night also makes him think about life’s changes and how they can be beautiful even when they bring endings.

b. Recall a childhood moment when you felt closely connected with nature. Describe the time and place as well as your feelings and thoughts about it.

I was born and raised in the busy city of Kathmandu, where my father works. Life was fast and noisy with little nature around. Before my school graduation exams, my father said we would visit our native village during the long vacation. I was very happy, like a dream coming true. In the village, everything was calm and peaceful, very different from the busy city. I saw a milking cow for the first time; I had thought all milk came from stores. The next morning, my grandpa took me to the green paddy fields. The wide fields and sweet chirping birds in mango groves amazed me. The wind felt free and playful, unlike anything I had known. I enjoyed watching sunrises and sunsets without tall buildings blocking the view. We stayed for about a month, and that first close connection with nature stayed with me forever.

c. Interpret the poem in any way you like.

This short poem is like a dramatic monologue where the speaker talks to his younger self, the “little i.” The poem starts with a nostalgic mood as the speaker watches the sunset through a window and remembers how he enjoyed such scenes as a child. He asks “Who are you?” to the child version of himself, showing he still feels that youthful joy inside, even though adult worries have suppressed it. As the poem goes on, the mood shifts to a more thoughtful and sad feeling, as the speaker thinks about life passing by and the approach of death. The poem shows how life moves from happy childhood to the end, but even this change is seen as beautiful in its own way.