Lit Kit Project (Cultural Identity)
- How it relates: the “American Dream”
- Talk about the “American Dream culture”
____ Diction (7 words total, links to online definitions, pop-up or note with example explained)
- Arrayed: “display or arrange (things) in a particular way.”
- Sole: “the undersurface of a person’s foot.”
- Clean favoured: “free from dirt, marks, or stains.” and “preferred or recommended.”
- Imperially: “of the nature or rank of an emperor or supreme ruler.”
- Flutter: “move or fall with a light irregular or trembling motion.”
- Glittered: “shine with a bright, shimmering reflected light.”
- Grace: “simple elegance or refinement of movement.”
____ Imagery – what are the images that arise from this poem, (4 characters)
- “He was a gentleman from sole to crown”
- He was kind and well-mannered
- “Clean favored, and imperially slim.”
- He was well-dressed and attractive
- “‘Good-morning,’ and he glittered when he walked.”
- He ‘shone’ in a way–like his personality was bright enough to show through his completion
- “So on we worked, and waited for the light”
- Ppl who worked hard couldn’t see the success that they saw in Richard Cory
____ Setting (photo and explanation, both physical and emotional, can be annotated or linked)
This image can show how Richard Cory feels: fortunate but unhappy. He has been given a good hand, yet he finds no joy.
Like Kennedy, I believe that Cory appeared happy and wealthy; but was lonely. Nowadays, there’s a standard of the “American Dream” that is embedded in the North American Culture, where we have to ‘make it or break it’. You see this, especially, in America, where ppl are based on the materialistic part of life, filling their lives with expensive items–like fancy cars and jewelry. However, we find that these ppl with the most tangible things in life are unhappy and striving to fill that emptiness inside them with more physical items. Robinson might be feeling this himself, b/c he was also a financially fortunate man, and was personifying these feelings through this poem.
https://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/Money%20Rules%20Man_5237
Symbolism signs ( 3 signs identified, annotated )
Conflict highlighted ( distinguish 2 types, explain if
internal/external, annotated, explained )
Irony ( 3 examples, can be any type of irony, must explain
how it is that type of irony, annotated )
Joel:
Symbolism
As Richard Cory walks downtown: “We people on the pavement looked at him” ( Robinson 2 ). The downtown area represents poverty: these people are homeless and don’t have many possessions so they look up at him both from the pavement and in awe. They want the riches and leisure he has as they say, “to make us wish that we were in his place” ( Robinson 12 ).
Those who live downtown speak of their working conditions: “So on we worked, and waited for the light” ( Robinson 13 ). The light could represent change. They are hoping their situation will change whether thats due to society changing and helping them or a new opportunity that could get them back on their feet.
Richard Cory is described as “imperially slim” ( Robinson 4 ). This could represent that he has an unhealthy lifestyle. While he has enough food to keep himself healthy and fit he seems to have stopped eating because he has made his choice to commit suicide.
Conflict
There are two types of conflict in this story: person vs self and person vs society.
Richard Cory’s struggle throughout the poem is all in his head. As a wealthy man he has everything he needs and more yet he is unhappy. He gets no pleasure from his possessions. While the people of the downtown area crave what he has he does not. In the end he takes his own life as he believed these riches would make him happy but they have left him unfulfilled.
The poor people who live downtown are the product of a failed system and government. They should be treated as equals but instead they are treated as outcasts. Left without the basics rights and needs of a human being with no support from the government or those around them. Richard Cory may talk to them and treat them with respect as the people say this about him: “he was alway human when he talked” ( Robinson 6 ). Yet he just ignores the problem and distributes none of his wealth to them.
Irony
When Richard Cory greets people, “good morning” ( Robinson 8 ). This is verbal irony as we later find out he is unhappy and this is the day he decides to commit suicide.
While Richard Cory shows the image of someone who is free of worry we the readers can tell something is wrong as: “still he fluttered pulses” ( Robinson 7 ). This is an example of dramatic irony as the other characters think he’s alright yet we know something isn’t right as we know his heart is fluttering.
Richard Cory is a wealthy man and therefore we assume he would be happy yet he, “went home and put a bullet in his head” ( Robinson 16 ). This is situational irony as we would never assume this wealthy man would commit suicide.
____ Author Background (link to background page)
____ Other Poetic Devices (3 examples identified and explained, annotated) > http://literary-devices.com
____ Thematic Statements (2 thematic statements that fit the story, also must be explained in 2-3 sentences, end of
document, annotated)
Kennedy:
Authors background
- Edwin Arlington Robinson grew up in a wealthy family. He was a strong student and fascinated by literature. The poem “Richard Cory” is about a wealthy gentleman who is very proper and admired, “He was a gentleman from sole to crown,” (Robinson). The poem takes a dark turn and ends with Richard Corey shooting himself. The piece relates Robinsons wealthy life to another and how the luxuries of life may not always be what it seems and a person is deeper than just their physical appearance or status.
Poetic Devices
- Metaphor- “Richer than a king” (Robinson), This passage implies that Richard Corey is extremely wealthy.
- Alliteration- “people on pavement” (Robinson). The recurrence of the letter “P” creates alliteration.
- Irony- Corey was portrayed as a successful and happy man, however he commits suisicde. This reflects on how we see others and think that individuals are happy when they have money, however in reality that isn’t always true.
Thematic statements
- “Richard Corey” (Robinson) is the narrative poem about a comfortable charming gentleman who seems to have it all. The townspeople see Corey as superior and favour him for his wealth and appearance, however wealth does not define one’s happiness which we see as the poem unfolds.
- Everyone views the world differently, what we see may not always be the whole picture. Richard Corey was solemnly based upon his social status and despite his success he appeared to be quite lonely during the poem. Nobody knew the true Richard Corey, everyone just saw him for his physical appearance which led to his death.
