Abstract The paper analyzes the four-stanza, sixteen-line long poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson about the suicide of Cory. It examines how Robinson employs simple but well-chosen words to illuminate the title character and illustrate the tension between Richard Cory's inner and outer worlds. It discusses the use of the first person plural pronoun, 'we' to identify with the 'people on the pavement' and how it lures the reader into identification with the general populace enabling the reader to perceive Richard Cory through the people's eyes, rather than the poet's.
From the Paper "Robinson places far more attention on the actions of Richard Cory than he does on the populace because the poem characterizes Cory. But the working class people who come into contact with Cory color their perception of the "clean favored" man. ?We the people on the pavement...thought that he was everything,? because Cory seemed to glow. His presence evoked a sense of quiet envy, of respect and admiration. "We people" lived ?down town,? a visible and metaphoric distinction from the uptown, well-educated milieu of Richard Cory."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Specifically, the paper compares and contrasts Abraham Lincoln with Richard Cory in the poem. According to the paper, these are two very different men, but they share some common elements.
From the Paper "Why did Richard Cory kill himself? The poem does not really answer this, but the poet insinuates that Cory seems to have everything, but it is not enough to make him happy. He is "rich as a king," but that is not the only thing that matters in life, as this poem shows. Happiness comes from contentment and satisfaction with your life and what you do. It seems that Lincoln was probably happy. He was doing an important job, and he had a family that loved him. He never had a lot of money, but he seems as if he was content with his life. In this, he was different than Cory. He would not have chosen to end his life the way Cory did, because he was content, and because he had important responsibilities. Maybe Cory was unhappy because his life was empty, and he did not have important responsibilities, and that would be a big difference between Cory and Lincoln. Lincoln was a success and he worked hard. Cory did not have to work, and he did not seem to have anything to motivate him or make him proud. Lincoln did, and so he had a reason for living, while Cory did not."
Tags: suicide, weak, powerful, politics, Civil, War, respect, deception, money
Abstract This paper is a literary analysis of the poem "Richard Cory" by late eighteenth century poet Edward Arlington Robinson. The paper discusses the popularity of "Richard Cory", mainly because of the brief and simple plot and the familiar human characteristics which Robinson incorporates into the poem.
From the Paper "The succinct, simple plot of "Richard Cory" contributes to its circulation among generations of readers. Even some of the lower class people are able to read Robinson's poem because it does not contain the confusing poetic fluff common to the late 1800?s. "But poems, like people, sometimes suffer from what familiarity so often breeds. This is especially true if the work appears to be fairly simple and uncomplicated" (Anderson 1). People of all classes can also relate to Robinson's poem because all humans know failure and its characteristic feelings. ?The characters of works like "Richard Cory" are faced with failure and tragedy? (Peschel 1). Robinson's failures may be personal, or he may write about failures he witnesses his family suffer through."
Abstract This paper explains the tragic family life that Robinson had - filled with illness and death of family members. It analyzes his poem "Richard Cory" and discusses whether this poem was about a specific family member or not.
From the Paper "Robinson's philosophical perspective came to combine the idealism of the waning Romantic Age with the dark pessimism of the dawning century. While he believed ardently in the divine spark within all man and nature, he inevitably found that spark clouded with what he called "the black and awful chaos of the night." His attitude is not surprising, because of his failed romances, poetry neglect and alcohol in his family. His mother shockingly died from black diphtheria. His brothers, Dean and Herman died from alcohol and drug addictions. His father's health started declining and he finally died. Most of the family finances were loss, as well as his own prolonged frustration and poverty."
Abstract The paper relates that "Fences" is a moving story about the strained relationship between a father and son; Troy struggling to care for his family and Cory growing up to become his own idea of a man. The paper shows how Cory is basically a good young man, who is constantly driven to the breaking point by his overbearing father. The paper describes how Cory suffers "three strikes" that each widen the gap between father and son, ensuring that they will never reconcile or forgive one another for their behavior.
From the Paper "Using baseball analogies and terminology, "Fences" tells the story of two men, one struggling to care for his family and the other one growing up to become his own idea of a man. Cory, the son, suffers "three strikes" according to his father, and is sent away to live on his own. In the "first strike," Cory shows his father he can be a man, in the "second strike," Cory shows his father he can fight, and in the "third strike," he is sent out of the house, never to see his father again. Each strike widens the gap between father and son, ensuring that they will never reconcile or forgive one another for their behavior."
Abstract This essay examines the different ways in which both Robinson and Elliot lead their readers to understand the desperation that their title characters feel in "Richard Cory" and "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?, respectively. The author compares the different ways in which the poets differentiate alienation.
From the Paper "While Corey appears to us as a character driven to death by loneliness combined with the inner demons that haunt each one of us, Prufrock seems like the kind of character who will spend his entire life worrying about what other people think, but be in the end just a little too convinced of his own importance ever to consider suicide. While Corey spends his time making others happy, Prufrock spends his time making himself unhappy."
Abstract This paper reviews a number of literary works as they relate to the conflict between the individual and the group, between the individual and his or her society. Many writers delve into this theme in different terms, but often the conflict can be discerned in terms of class differences. The writer uses pieces of poetry, prose and drama to delve into this issue and explore the racial and class differences faced by individuals within each society. The literature analyzed includes: Edwin Arlington Robinson's "Richard Cory", "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner, Ellison's "The Invisible Man" and a number of short stories by Sherwood Anderson.
From the Paper "One of the major poems suggesting first that there is a sense of social class in America and second that the hierarchy masks reality is Edwin Arlington Robinson's "Richard Cory." In this poem, one of the favored of the town, someone whom everyone looks up to and who seems to have everything that everyone else wants, proves that we can never really be sure of what is going on in the life or mind of another person:And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.."
Abstract This paper looks at the life of the poet E.A. Robinson whose works are highly autobiographical and which can be considered short and perfunctory. The simplicity and profound emotional experience of his poetry is discussed throughout this paper using examples from poems such as as "Richard Cory", "Miniver Cheevey", "The House On The Hill" and "The Mill".
From the Paper ""The House On The Hill" isn't as well-known as "Richard Cory" or "Miniver Cheevey" and lacks their irony and snappy composition, but it is written as concisely and brilliantly as both poems. It's message is emphasized because despite its brevity, the poem uses repetition of the two main lines in every stanza. He's sending the reader a message about as subtle as smacking face first into a steel flagpole. This is done methodically, however, and although the poem is an emotional one, it lacks the fire and vigor of a piece written on a whim. Instead of sharp sorrow or anger, long thought out resignation and despair are the fuel for "The House On The Hill"."
A review of "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning and "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks, focusing on the theme of death in each.
1,855 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 0 sources, 2006, $ 59.95
Abstract This paper reviews and discusses the three poems "Richard Cory," "My Last Duchess," and "We Real Cool". The paper focuses primarily on the theme of death, prevalent in all three.
From the Paper "The narrator in a poem is the character whose voice is telling the story and through whose eyes we see the characters and action happen. The narrator is not necessarily the poet, although because of the use of "I" or "we," it may seem that way sometimes. In the poem "Richard Cory," the narrator is a male who is part of a group of males in a town or village ("on the sidewalk"), whom now we might say are boys who "grew up in the streets." They are probably about the same age as Richard Cory. The situation is one in which common, working people are observing a privileged person. "
This paper compares and discusses the following poems: ?Sonnet 18? and ?Sonnet 130? by William Shakespeare, ?Richard Cory? by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and ?Resume,? by Dorothy Parker.
1,927 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 61.95
Abstract This paper successfully gives a detailed practical criticism on four well-known poems. A summary of each poem is given, followed by various literary devices including: alliteration, symbolism, tones, rhyme, allusion. The writer compares and contrasts the two Shakespeare Sonnets.
From the Paper "This sonnet at first seems very different from the previous sonnet. At first, it seems as if Shakespeare is talking about someone he definitely does not love, with all the negative comparisons. Again, the theme of this poem is love, but it looks at it from a different angle. We do know by the end, that the writer is in love with his ?mistress,? but it is not quite the flowery language of the previous poem, it is tongue-in-cheek. ?And in some perfumes is there more delight, Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.?
An analysis of American author, Stanley Karnow's theory that America used the Philippines as a colonial bastion against political ideologies it disliked, such as communism.
Abstract The paper discusses ideas put forth by Stanley Karnow, in his book "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines" that America attempted to make over the Philippines into a nation in America's image, in political, economic and religious terms. The paper shows that because this remanufacture of imaging was done on an unequal basis, with the Philippines assumed to be inferior child to the parental and patriarchal re-manufacturing nature of America, the relationship between the two nations, in Karnow's envisioning, was almost doomed to be exploitative.
From the Paper Karnow is particularly harsh on the United States in describing the way the Reagan administration propped up the Marcoses. The administration's justification for doing this was anti-communism, that Marcos was an anti-Communist in a world beset by an evil empire. However, Karnow does not exculpate this Philippine president from all blame, even though he is merciless when discussing Reagan's initial refusal to help return Marcos from exile after his loss to Nicky Aquino in the first fair presidential elections in the land. Karnow admits President Aquino's later eroding popularity and its impact on the Philippines.
Abstract Analysis of several poems and stories that reflect how individuals seek to assert themselves in their society. The works of writers include E.A. Robinson's RICHARD CORY, William Faulkner's BARN BURNING, Sherwood Anderson's WINESBURG, OHIO, Ralph Ellison's THE INVISIBLE MAN, Langston Hughes' HARLEM and Claude McKay's IF WE MUST DIE. Theme of class differences.
From the Paper "A major conflict in society and in literature is that between the individual and the group, between the individual and his or her society. Many writers delve into this theme in different terms, but often the conflict can be discerned in terms of class differences. It is true that Americans like to think we do not have social classes, but in fact we do, shaped less around questions of birth as in Europe and more around economic distinctions, racial differences, and even the job one has. These sorts of distinctions are important in the way the individual seeks to assert him or herself and the way society wants that individual to be in several stories and poems to be discussed below.
One of the major poems suggesting first that there is a sense of social class in America and second that the hierarchy..."
Abstract Shows the conflict between the father, Troy, and his son, Cory. Examines Troy's relationship with his family, his sense of responsibility, and his bitterness over past and present racial discrimination.
From the Paper "One often wonders whether fences were built to keep people out or to keep them in. August Wilson's play shows us both sides of that old adage. Troy has just finished serving fifteen years in prison and now has an honest job. Upon returning to ..."
Abstract This paper presents a brief biographical account of the life of American poet, Edward Arlington Robinson and then goes on to discuss the philosophy underlying his poetry. Next, the paper analyzes Robinson's poem "Richard Cory", suggesting that underneath the obvious irony in the poem lies a deeper, more harmful message.
From the Paper "Edwin Arlington Robinson was born December 22nd, 1869 at Head Tide, Main. He was the son of Edward and Mary E. Robinson. In 1870 the family moved from Head Tide to Gardiner, Maine, where he received his early education at Gardiner High School. After graduating high school, he went on to attend Harvard College from 1891 to 1893. Due to the unfortunate event of his father's death, Edwin's family did not have enough money to finish school. Between 1897 and 1898 he lived in New York then returned to live there permanently in 1900."
Tags: civil, war, was, transitional, evaluating, present, traditional, forms, elements, transcendentalism
Abstract The paper relates that August Wilson's work, "Fences", gained immediate recognition for its ability to convey the struggles and hardships among African Americans and the societies that they live in. The paper focuses on Troy and Cory's tumultuous relationship that emphasizes the difference of struggles between past and current generations of African-Americans. The paper also touches upon the issue of marital infidelity and the literary device of the fence.
From the Paper "In 1983 August Wilson wrote one of America's most loved plays entitled "Fences." This literary piece gained immediate recognition and awards for its ability to convey the struggles and hardships among African-Americans and the societies that they live in. The play embodies the past issues that these individuals deal with, along with the present ones. Several African-American generations of conflict and discrimination are examined in this play by the use of strong characters who share their lives with the audience."
