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E. E. Cummings Quiz for Experts | Authors

e.e. cummings influenced a generation of writers and thinkers. Here is a quiz about his life and work.

A multiple-choice quiz by captainthought. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
captainthought

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
117,214

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
591

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is E.E. Cummings' full name? Hint

Ely Edmund Cumming

Everett Estlin Cummings

The initials didn't stand for anything

Edward Estlin Cummings

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. E.E. Cummings never capitalized letters in his poetry.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What talent (other than poetry) did Cummings receive some acclaim for? Hint

yodeling

painting

breeding dogs

inventing correction tape for the typewriter

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Question 4 of 10

4. One of his poems is featured in the Woody Allen film "Hannah and Her Sisters." The first line of the poem is: Hint

Somewhere I have never travelled gladly beyond

Never have I travelled beyond gladly

Somehow I have gladly travelled beyond never

Beyond I have travelled gladly somewhere

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. E.E. Cummings' astrological sign was: Hint

Scorpio

Libra

Aquarius

Sagittarius

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Question 6 of 10

6. Each of the following is a true statement EXCEPT: Hint

He graduated Magna cum Laude from Harvard

His daughter married Teddy Roosevelt's grandson

He never actually met John Dos Passos face to face

He was imprisoned by the French for "treason"

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Question 7 of 10

7. On September 3, 1925, in a letter to his mother, he wrote: Hint

I am a small eye poet.

I am a SMALL i poet.

i am a small I poet.

Aye, am I a small i poet?

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The word "god" was always in lowercase letters in his poetry.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. According to one of his poems, "a hero equals any jerk who is afraid to dare to answer..." Hint

"yes"

"no"

"the phone"

"to god"

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In one of his poems he ends with "And if I sing you are my..." Hint

love

song

voice

own

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is E.E. Cummings' full name?

Answer: Edward Estlin Cummings

E.E. Cummings was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Edward and Rebecca Haswell Clarke Cummings.

2. E.E. Cummings never capitalized letters in his poetry.

Answer: false

He used capital letters whenever and wherever he wanted. He also used punctuation unconventionally, even, at times, in the middle of a word.

3. What talent (other than poetry) did Cummings receive some acclaim for?

Answer: painting

His Cubist paintings were exhibited and received much attention.

4. One of his poems is featured in the Woody Allen film "Hannah and Her Sisters." The first line of the poem is:

Answer: Somewhere I have never travelled gladly beyond

In the movie, Michael Caine has fallen in love with his wife's sister and begins to woo her with Cummings. She weeps because the poem is so beautiful.

5. E.E. Cummings' astrological sign was:

Answer: Libra

He was born October 14, 1894. For astrology buffs: Being a talented writer, poet and painter, he fits the Libran profile.

6. Each of the following is a true statement EXCEPT:

Answer: He never actually met John Dos Passos face to face

He met Dos Passos at Harvard and they began writing poetry together and publishing.

7. On September 3, 1925, in a letter to his mother, he wrote:

Answer: I am a small eye poet.

E.E. Cummings used the lower case to indicate the poet, and the upper case to indicate himself.

8. The word "god" was always in lowercase letters in his poetry.

Answer: False

He makes many references to God in his poetry. "i thank you God" is capitalized, but in "next to of course god america i" it is not capitalized.

9. According to one of his poems, "a hero equals any jerk who is afraid to dare to answer..."

Answer: "no"

This poem was a tribute to dissenters everywhere. A good anti-war poem.

10. In one of his poems he ends with "And if I sing you are my..."

Answer: voice

"hate blows a bubble of despair into" is the first line. E.E. Cummings has some very famous last lines.

Source: Author captainthought

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