Poetry Analysis

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Richard Cory

Original Poetry

Translation

Whenever Richard Cory went downtown,

We people on the street watched him;

We people on the pavement looked at him;

He was a gentleman from head to toe,

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Well-liked and elegantly thin.

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always dressed simply,

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always friendly when he spoke;

And he was always human when he talked;

But still, he made us excited when he said,

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

'Good morning,' and he shone when he walked.

‘Good-morning,’ and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich - yes, richer than a king ---

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king ---

And admirably schooled in every grace:

And very well-educated in every way:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

In short, we thought he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

That made us wish we were him.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

So we kept working, hoping for better times,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And went without good food, and complained about what we had;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Went home and shot himself in the head.

Edwin Arlington Robinson

Explanation

The poem 'Richard Cory' by Edwin Arlington Robinson tells the story of a man who appears to have everything: wealth, education, and admiration from those around him. The townspeople envy him, believing he embodies the ideal life. However, the poem takes a dark turn in the final stanza, revealing that despite his outward success, Richard Cory was deeply unhappy and ultimately took his own life. This stark contrast between appearance and reality highlights the theme of hidden despair and the misconception that wealth equates to happiness. The poem uses simple language and a straightforward narrative to convey a powerful message about the human condition and the dangers of envy and assumption.

Word Dictionary11

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
pavement	sidewalk	the path or sidewalk where people walk	—
gentleman	polite man	a man who is polite and well-mannered	—
crown	top of head	the top part of the head	—
imperially	royally	in a way that is grand or royal	—
arrayed	dressed	dressed in a particular way	—
fluttered	excited	caused excitement or nervousness	—
glittered	shone	sparkled or shone brightly	—
admirably	impressively	in a way that is worthy of admiration	—
grace	elegance	elegance or refinement in movement or manner	—
cursed	complained about	expressed dissatisfaction or annoyance	—
bullet	projectile	a small metal projectile for a gun	—

Poet & Context

PoetEdwin Arlington Robinson

EraLate 19th to early 20th century

Edwin Arlington Robinson was an American poet known for his short, dramatic poems concerning the lives of ordinary people. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry three times and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.

View on Wikipedia

When1897

WhyThe poem reflects the disparity between outward appearances and inner realities, a common theme in Robinson's work. It explores the illusion of wealth and happiness, and the hidden struggles of individuals.

FormNarrative poem

Themes & More

Themes

Appearance vs. RealityWealth and HappinessIsolation and Despair

Literary devices

Irony: The poem's ending reveals the irony of Richard Cory's life, where his outward appearance of success hides inner despair.Imagery: Vivid descriptions of Richard Cory's appearance and demeanor create a strong visual image.Contrast: The stark contrast between the townspeople's perception of Cory and his actual life.