...In the poem “Richard Cory” written by Edwin Arlington Robinson, Richard Cory is portrayed as a great man, and everyone thinks he is such a well put together person who has his life together. When he walks the streets down town, we get to hear the poorer peoples’ perspective on their idea of him. They elaborate about how everything from his actions to his looks are appealing. Throughout the poem it seems like he has the perfect life because of how the lower class of people talk about him, but in the end we discover that he commits suicide by shooting himself in the head. After reading this poem, you realize that there are many themes portrayed and each consisting of significant value. For example, one of the main themes that we see is that you cannot assume certain aspects of a person just off of their looks. The less fortunate people, or as said in the poem, “people on the pavement” (Robinson, 851), only went...
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...“Richard Cory” is a story told by a narrator by the name of Edwin Arlington Robinson. The narrator speaks for the rest of the poor in the town when he claims that “we people on the pavement looked at him” and “we thought that he was everything.” In the first three stanzas, the narrator praises Richard Cory, painting him as a “gentlemen from sole to crown” who “glittered when he walked.” The rich, popular, and refined Cory is envied by those around him for seemingly having all that life has to offer. The fourth stanza, however, takes a tragic turn and ends with Cory's suicide: “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night / Went home and put a bullet through his head.” There are no clues given in the poem as to why Cory commits suicide. Judging by the poem, the story is told from that of one of the townspeople. This can be shown by looking at the second line of the poem where it states, "we people on the pavement looked at him". This person seemed to be confused as to why a man held in such high regard with so many possessions would take his life. He seems to be confused that a man everyone wanted to be like, would commit suicide. It just comes to show that even with all the wealth that someone may...
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...In Edward Arlington Robinson's poem "Richard Cory" the narrator of the poem spends a full three stanzas to describe a man, a very rich man, successful man, very well educated, and admired by the people in his town, named Richard Cory. He was the object of every one's attention. "We people on the pavement looked at him"(5). Although his financial success, and very well educated, he takes his own life. The poem idea is hat money can't buy happiness. In Edward Arlington Robinson's poem "Richard Cory" we see a portrayal of a rich man unhappy for his life. The theme of the poem is that people should never judge other people by their appearance. Appearances are sometimes deceiving. The narrator paints Richard Cory as a “gentleman from sole to crown”(5). The narrator even uses language that describes royalty, “clean favored and imperially slim”(5). He did not behave arrogantly, he spoke to people with respect. He was a very friendly, affable, perfect, polite gentleman. “And he was always quietly arrayed, and he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, “Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked”(5). The narrator tells us about Cory’s economic situation and his completed life. 2 “And he was rich, yes, richer than a king, and admirably schooled in every grace”(10). It is in human nature to want to be in the place of somebody else, like Richard Cory. Everyone wants to be admired and honored. Unfortunately, it is not the way of life. To...
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...frequently or is generally unsuccessful in life. In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poems, three men are classified as losers in three different situations. The three protagonists of the poems are Miniver Cheevy, Richard Cory, and Mr. Flood. These three men, unable to cope with their problems or improve their situations, drown in a life of misery, sadness, and loneliness. They live an unhappy life but do nothing to make it or themselves better. In Robinson’s poem, Miniver Cheevy, a man is unhappy with the era he is living in. He wishes he lived in the time of warriors, swords, and medieval iron clothing. He thought he was born in the wrong time and called it fate. He describes his times as boring, where nothing adventurous happens, like in the old times. Unfortunately, Miniver Cheevy did nothing to improve his life and only kept dreaming of a fantasy life. He becomes a loser that only keeps dreaming, drinking, thinking and thinking but cared less about making his life worth living. He got drunk everyday only to keep imagining a fantasy life that would never become reality and weeping that he was ever born. But not everybody copes with the problems the same way. On another one of Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poems, a story of a wealthy, envied man is described. Richard Cory is the main character of the poem. He is extremely rich, educated, and gracious. His life seems perfect. Men envy him and women want to be with him. A greeting from him was taken as a greeting from a celebrity...
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...Keiyonna young Ms. Herzog Communications 27 July 2015 Literary Comparison: Deception at its greatest All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul and they will never notice how broken you really are! -Unknown In this paper I will briefly compare two pieces of literature and their authors. The first is “We Wear the Mask (1896)” by Paul Laurence Dunbar and "Richard Cory (1897)" by Edward Arlington Robinson. I really enjoy poetry and was amazed at the similarities found in these two pieces despite the very noticeable difference in the authors. I started of my paper with a quote from an unknown author which will help set the tone for the two poems I will be comparing. This quote describes something we all have at one time or another. We all have at some point in our lives encountered (or will encounter) a time where we have to do or go through something that we did not want to do or experience. A time where we cannot let on to others what we are truly feeling inside. Whether it is at work or staying strong for family or friends or just putting on a front for the world. These two authors wrote poems about this very thing. Paul L Dunbar was born in Dayton Ohio on June 22, 1872 to parents who had been enslaved prior to the civil war. Just about 3 years earlier Edward Arlington Robinson was born on December 22, 1869. His parents were very well off. There is so much to be said about the lives of these two great men and the things that they...
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...Richard Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem, Richard Cory, was a window into the life of a lonely man, who had everything ones heart could desire. He was good looking, wealth and well known there out the town. Even though he had all of these things he still “put a bullet through his head”. Sixty nine years later Paul Simon wrote a response to Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem, also entitle Richard Cory. Paul Simon response came in the form of a song. The speaker in Simon’s poem is a low class working citizen, who wishes he was Richard Cory. Even though both poems are about Richard Cory and have the same title, the two are very different in many ways. They also share some similarities, which is not that many. The first contrast, I see between the poems is that Richard Cory had everything a man could want. “He had everything a man could want: power, grace, and style”. To the readers and the narrators Richard Cory appears to have everything plus more. They only see his exterior appearance, not the interior. If Richard Cory had everything, why did he take his life? The first similarity I see in the two poems is that everybody wants to be Richard Cory. Even after he committed suicide, the townspeople still wish they could be Richard Cory. Once again the townspeople and the narrator are only looking at the exterior and not the interior of Richard Cory. In Simon’s poem, the narrator repeats it over and over again in through out the poem. The second contrast that I noticed was that everyone...
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...Meeks 1 Michelle Meeks Dr. Jon Glover ENC 1102 (MTWR 12:45) July 26, 2012 Richard Cory: The American Tragedy, The American Revolution Primary Sources 1. Robinson, Edwin Arlington. Richard Cory. 1897. Edwin Robinson wrote a short narrative poem about a man, Richard Cory. Robinson describes Richard Cory as a man who is wealthy, admired, educated, stylish, and modest. At the end of the poem the feeling of admiration changes to shock after it was revealed that Richard Cory "went home and put a bullet through his head." Robinson taught the moral "money doesn't buy happiness" through the magic of envy. 2. Simon, Paul. Richard Cory. 1966. Literature In Paul Simon's adaptation of Richard Cory he reconceived the original poem and added a chorus that emphasized a separate truth. Simon talks about Richard Cory being Meeks 2 "born into society" and painted a picture of Cory being a wealthy playboy with tones like "the orgies on his yacht." Simon wants his readers/listeners to view Richard Cory as a type of lifestyle. Secondary Sources 3. Morse, David E. Avant-Rock in the Classroom. The English Journal, Vol. 58, No. 2 (Feb., 1969), pp. 196-200+297. Print. This article suggests that using avant-rock in the classroom the students would show more interest in literature. "The whole avant-rock movement clearly challenges the traditional notions of what is literature." Morse believes that by doing this they will bring many students who react sentimentally to...
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...Camille Khaye Gapate 1. Search for the poem “Richard Cory” by Edward Arlington Richard Cory BY EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich—yes, richer than a king— And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. 2. Answer the following: A. Who is Richard Cory -Richard Cory is a wealthy man, admired and envied by those who consider themselves less fortunate than him. B. Describe him - Richard Cory is described as being a “gentlemen from sole to crown” and “clean favored.” When describing his movements, the people say he “glittered when he walked.” They also acknowledge his wealth and education as being much greater than their own. C. What happen to him? - He commits suicide. D. Why do you think he did that? (refer to question C) - Richard Cory commits suicide because, despite all the things he had, his life was completely empty. A supporting fact of this would be the absence of relationships...
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...Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935) Wherever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, “Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich—yes, richer than a king— And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. Background Edwin Arlington Robinson became the backdrop for many of Robinson's poems. Robinson described his childhood as stark and unhappy; he once wrote in a letter to Amy Lowell that he remembered wondering why he had been born at the age of six. After high school, Robinson spent two years studying at Harvard University as a special student and his first poems were published in the Harvard Advocate. Paraphrase Richard Cory goes to the center of the town. Every pedestrian stares at him from the sidewalk. He is a good man from head to feet He has a neat looks and he also has a perfect figure. Richard Cory is wearing formal clothes when he goes to downtown He is a very well-mannered man. But he still trembles when he talks. He has a word...
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...Conflicts of Naturalism and Realism “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head. (Robinson, 4)”. This climactic end to “Richard Cory” was benevolent to inner health and the realism was indicated in “Richard Cory”. Naturalism and Realism are Real people, Places, settings, conflicts. Also shows when nature has caused issues with the character's objective. Three works were chosen to really show what Naturalism and Realism are: Ethan Frome, a man who his whole life turned around several times because of illness and his struggles with love. “The outcasts of poker flat”, who are misfits to society, are kicked out of the flat and must travel...
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... One fateful day in a town deep within the mountains called “Glorpenstein ” there was a man named Damien. Now unlike most stories, Damien was in fact, a normal person. He went to Glorpenstein High School or just GHS for short. He had many friends, Derek, Dominique, and Hank. Derek was the school nerd, you ask him to solve an equation, he’ll have an answer for you in 10 seconds flat! Dominique was a simple man, and was quite boring. Makes you wonder why Damien was friends with him. He worked at a local Moe’s and was skinny enough to cosplay a skeleton on Halloween. Hank was the classroom clown, voted to most likely to become famous, and all around a horrible person. On this fateful day Damien had gotten sick of Hank’s pranks, and decided to stand up for himself for once. Hank had told Derek about a prank he was going to pull on Damien. Derek, without telling anyone else, warned Damien about the incoming attack. Apparently Hank was going drop a bucket of slime all over Damien and Dominique at the same time as they walked out the school doors! Damien grabbed an umbrella and headed towards the doors wearing a grasshopper mask. Damien had known Hank’s only true fear, and he was about to scare the pants off him! At lunch Damien sat with all his friends. The table was suspiciously quiet. “Beautiful day outside isn’t it guys?” asked Hank. “Yeah! Not a cloud in the sky! I can’t wait to go home and show my mom my new painting I made!” Said Dominique, happily. “I’ve been having a really...
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...Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem “Richard Cory” the theme of appearance vs. truth is explored. These poems show how you can see someone and still not completely “see” them. They live an ironic life as their appearances differ from their reality. Everyone has a way in which they mask themselves from the world. Their hidden truth kept within a false persona. In We Wear the Mask people are described as hypocritical, deceptive and willing to appear content with their circumstances, although they are not. The speaker's world appears cold and indifferent; inducing false personas in an effort to appear unbothered. The people are determined to keep the true nature of their sufferings to themselves and to present to others happiness and lack of care, “We wear the mask that grins and lies,” (Dunbar line 1). All of the courtesy and feelings shown are just phony disguises for the painful truths that hide behind them. Furthermore, no matter what is felt one should cover it up, to allow what appears to become reality....
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...Unfulfilled Expectations Edwin Arlington’s” Richard Cory” and “Jane Mirikitani’s” Suicide Note” are both poems that deal with the subject of suicide. The characters in both poems are different in many ways, yet at the same time, very much alike. Both poems contain different twists and turns that seem to teeter on engaging. The wording and tone leave the reader wondering of the choices that the characters chose, the circumstances that lead up to their deathly kiss, and the psychological state of each respective character. Looking at both poems side by side, we come to the conclusion that suicide is a multi-faceted issue that can stagger on the selfish, the reprieve, or even the remorseful,...
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...Review: Street Fight The film Street Fight follows the story of Cory Booker and his campaign towards being the mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Corey Booker is a young, 32 year old city councilman, and a Yale graduate. In this 2002 campaign Cory Booker faces a tough rival: Sharp James. Sharpe James is a local man who grew up in Newark. James was in the army, he was a former high school teacher, but most importantly James has been in office since 1986, equaling sixteen served years as mayor of New Jersey’s largest city. This documentary presents major tactics used throughout this political campaign, all of which deal with the major problems in the community: power, race, and poverty. In this documentary, the problem with power is simply that Sharpe James has too much of it. Pablo Fonseca, the former head of code enforcement for the city of Newark, clearly sums up how powerful Sharp James is: “If you’re...
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...An act of fear can occur at anytime, anywhere, but when you are caught in the middle of it, it changes your life forever. In Cory Doctorow’s best selling novel Little Brother, Four teens skip school to find a clue for a game, but they get caught in the middle of a terrorist attack, and they are falsely accused for the attack. Throughout the story, there are many key points, but the chapter that started it all was Chapter Three, when the terrorist attack strikes and Marcus and his friends try to escape with their lives. They do run into some casualties along the way, Like when Darryl was stabbed, and when Homeland Security caught Marcus and his Friends. Those points helped turn the story into what it is, and its why its the most important. Chapter Three was the chapter that the terrorists attacked and Marcus and his friends were caught in the middle of it. Marcus, Darryl, Vanessa, and Jolo decided to skip school so they could get a headstart in finding a clue for their favorite game. During which, they felt a rumble, their first thought was Earthquake because it was California, and...
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