Final answer:
Edna St. Vincent Millay rose to fame before her 20th birthday with her poem “Renascence”. This recognition led to her attending Vassar College and launching a successful literary career that included a Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem that gained Edna St. Vincent Millay fame before her 20th birthday is “Renascence”. Millay's early success, including winning a scholarship to Vassar College, was a result of the recognition she received for this poem.
“Renascence” not only showcased her mastery of traditional poetic forms but also demonstrated her profound understanding of contemporary subjects. This was just the beginning of her illustrious career as she eventually won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1923 for “The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver.”
Millay's work is known for its courageous and innovative nature, with her bringing a fresh voice to the 1920s literary scene. She was also involved with the Provincetown Players, an experimental theatre group, writing plays alongside composing poetry.