Richard Cory Study Guide | GradeSaver
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Edwin Arlington Robinson was an early-twentieth-century American poet who wrote about ordinary people using traditional poetic forms of rhyme and meter. "Richard Cory," originally published in Robinson's 1897 collection The Children of the Night, recounts the story of a man who commits suicide despite being wealthy, educated, and envied by fellow townspeople.
The narrative poem introduces a man, Richard Cory, who appears to live a charmed life: he has good looks, wealth, status, and a sterling reputation. People look up to him and envy his position. But one night while the townspeople are going about their usual business, Richard Cory takes his own life by putting a bullet through his head.
Many, including Robinson's former sister-in-law Emma Shepherd, believe that "Richard Cory" was inspired by Robinson's older brother Herman. Herman was a charismatic and enviable man who married Emma, the woman Edwin Robinson himself had hoped to marry. But Herman soon squandered his money on failed financial endeavors and became an alcoholic, leading to his estrangement from his wife and children. He died from tuberculosis in 1909. Many believe that Herman's tragic fall from grace inspired the poem.
"Richard Cory" inspired Simon and Garfunkel's song of the same name, which was subsequently covered by famous artists such as Van Morrison and Paul McCartney and Wings. It also influenced numerous other musical compositions, including The Menzingers' "Richard Coury." A.R. Gurney's play of the same name was based on the poem, and humorist Garrison Keillor wrote a variation of the poem included in The Book of Guys. The poem's rich allusive history points to its enduring theme of a tragic life masked by outward composure.
Richard Cory Questions and Answers
The Question and Answer section for Richard Cory is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Richard Cory
The central theme of "Richard Cory" is the tragic disparity between Cory's outward appearance and his internal state. According to the speaker, Cory is a man with an enviable life: he is clean-cut, well-educated, wealthy, noble, and charismatic....
"Richard Cory appears to be a sugar coated bitter sweet." Although he happens to have everything that one would desire, something was buring him inside. Discuss this relevant to the poem Richard Cory.
The central theme of "Richard Cory" is the tragic disparity between Cory's outward appearance and his inward state. According to the speaker, Richard Cory is a man with an enviable life – clean-cut, well-educated, wealthy, noble, and charismatic....
What distinctions does the poem make between our interior and exterior lives?
Poem title, please?
Study Guide for Richard Cory
Richard Cory study guide contains a biography of Edwin Arlington Robinson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
- About Richard Cory
- Poem Text
- Richard Cory Summary
- Character List
- Glossary
Essays for Richard Cory
Richard Cory essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson.
- Do We Really Want To Be Richard Cory?
- Richard Cory's Illusion of Divinity
- Wealth and Happiness
Wikipedia Entries for Richard Cory
- Introduction
Tag » When Was Richard Cory Published
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Richard Cory (song) - Wikipedia
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