Robinson wrote this poem keeping his Brother in mind. His brother was a very rich and successful man in his time and he had a beautiful wife. Everyone wished to have a life as Cory as he potrayed a larger than life, as a King. But no one knew his inner pain. He was a failure in his personal relationship. He and his wife though were good partners, they were twin mates but they could not be soul mates. And facing this pain he surrendered his life.
I like this poem because it’s message or point is so simple, and yet so complex. What I mean is, on one hand it can be summed up in this way: don’t imagine anybody who appears to have much more than you and everyone else has is any more content than yourself. Simple. Then again it gets people discussing the myriad of reasons a person may not FEEL content-That whatever thoughts and feelings that lead to suicide are complex and probably have a lot less to do with lack of money,, how many friends you have, or how good looking or charming you are, all things you might imagine NOT having might make a person give up on life-these cannot be the same things that haunt Richard Corey, and yet his life wasn’t worth living. Makes a person think about what kind of demons can haunt a person.
The first time I heard this was at a 1976 Paul McCartney concert. After a little research I discovered that it was in fact a Simon & Garfield song. Forward a few years I discover it's a Edwin Arlington Robinson poem. Thanks for this explaining this.
I wanna thank you, I've been seeing your videos and they have helped me a lot for my literature class. English is not my native language and understanding poems for me becomes hard for this reason. God bless you and thank you once again chau.
I have been listening to you Ms. Rebecca since the onset of pandemic. Thank you for making me love and appreciate poems more ! I hope you'll do more videos. Love from the Philippines!❤
I like the song Richard Corey by Simon and Garfunkel and it is great. It reveals what you said about him. I have it on cd and heard it on lp also. The lp sounds much better. I read this poem in college English where I heard the song for the first time. You never know what people are hiding behind sometimes. And great riches do not always make us happy.
I became aware of Richard Cory Through a Reggae version of the song by Ken Boothe. I later found it was as song by Simon and Garfunkel. I found the story fascinating.
I’ve wondered about the intended intonation of the final line. It’s unclear whether the speaker’s takeaway is the same as our common reaction that “you just never know”, or “money doesn’t buy happiness.” As I’ve considered the poem over the years, the final line has become, to me, an expression of disbelief, spoken while shaking his head and in the tone of an interrogatory expressed with a wince, leaving the reader to draw a deeper understanding of the tragedy and find empathy for Richard Cory. But I could be completely off with that. Anyone?
Though one of Robinson's most famous poems, "Richard Cory" is not complicated with multiple meanings. This is not the case with many of Robinson's poems. "Eros Tyrannus" (Love, the Tyrant) and "Luke Havergal" come readily to mind. I look forward to hearing your interpretation of those more challenging pieces.
I think it's more simple than most. Wanting what you have is more important that having what you want. Just my humble opinion.I do love your video by the way. Dr. bill
i had a friend that drove a fancy car paid off, had a nice family, flashed a smile to everyone everyday (wore the mask), helped people out day to day... had no Debt... and one day he hung himself... all his suicide note said was " I Was Bored With Life..."
Hey Rebecca, It is so beautiful that you are helping many students like us, I have subscribed you and am fallowing all ur analysis. I would really appreciate if you would also analysis "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot. With love light n peace Suvas Agam From Nepal.
I have to dispute a couple of points. First, there's no reason to think being "on the pavement" is denigrating. Remember, this is happening "downtown." So "people on the pavement" would simply be those on the sidewalks, doing their business and chores, at the time. There is nothing in the poem itself to suggest otherwise. Second, "human when he talked" would naturally mean he didn't come across as superior, as condescending or dismissive, the better to contrast how he acted with how others reacted to him. Again, there is nothing it the poem itself to support your interpretation of this as an admonishment to the "people on the pavement." Third, "in fine" literally means "in short" or "in sum." And fourth, I find the notion that the underlying message of the ending is saying to those struggling "Hey! Have some self-respect!" stretches credulity. I know we're free to say "this is my understanding of this," but I still think it's important to distinguish between what is drawn from a poem and what is imposed on it. Finally, two observations. One is that I agree the idea that we can't know another person's internal life is central to the work. But I think the idea of "Have some self-respect" detracts from that, which is why I can't accept it as an interpretation. And while I agree that the "calm summer night" adds to the impact of the ending, I think it's real power comes from it's being said in the same even, observational, reportorial tone as the rest. of the poem.
Maybe the pedestal Cory had been placed on by the pavement people became too heavy a burden. The poem reminds us that until you walk a mile in somebody's shoes, you don't know what their life is like. Be good to each other.
You missed quite a bit based on your bias. Primarily it has to do with you understanding that Robinson was very macabre . Also, despite the royal personna, the human when he talked was relatable. You contidict yourself in saying this is from the townspeople vs the author speaking. The author is saying something very simple. You have overcomplicateded it
This a curious misread of this poem, whose meaning is almost self evident. Why did Richard Cory kill himself? Guilt of course. This ultra privileged person living a life envied by all the downtrodden poor was human enough, unlike your average member of the filthy rich, to realize that he was living off the sufferings of others, and did the decent thing. He was more intelligent and perceptive, and perhaps a better person in reality, than the ground down envious narrator.
Robinson wrote this poem keeping his Brother in mind. His brother was a very rich and successful man in his time and he had a beautiful wife. Everyone wished to have a life as Cory as he potrayed a larger than life, as a King. But no one knew his inner pain. He was a failure in his personal relationship. He and his wife though were good partners, they were twin mates but they could not be soul mates. And facing this pain he surrendered his life.
I 'm a sri lankan one and we have this poem for o /l lit.so this is realy helpful . Thank u so much for ur explainations .
Hi I'm student from Philipines this poem is really awesome. This poem is on our topic in English subject
I like this poem because it’s message or point is so simple, and yet so complex. What I mean is, on one hand it can be summed up in this way: don’t imagine anybody who appears to have much more than you and everyone else has is any more content than yourself. Simple. Then again it gets people discussing the myriad of reasons a person may not FEEL content-That whatever thoughts and feelings that lead to suicide are complex and probably have a lot less to do with lack of money,, how many friends you have, or how good looking or charming you are, all things you might imagine NOT having might make a person give up on life-these cannot be the same things that haunt Richard Corey, and yet his life wasn’t worth living. Makes a person think about what kind of demons can haunt a person.
The first time I heard this was at a 1976 Paul McCartney concert. After a little research I discovered that it was in fact a Simon & Garfield song. Forward a few years I discover it's a Edwin Arlington Robinson poem.
Thanks for this explaining this.
I heard it at a production of "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" yesterday.
1970 for me with my first Simon & Garfunkel album. Junior in high school.....and then read the ea Robinson poem.
I wanna thank you, I've been seeing your videos and they have helped me a lot for my literature class. English is not my native language and understanding poems for me becomes hard for this reason. God bless you and thank you once again chau.
Richard Corey and all of Spoon River Anthology are my favorite poems.
Whenever I see celebrities or England's royal family I'm think of the poem Richard Corey.
I have been listening to you Ms. Rebecca since the onset of pandemic. Thank you for making me love and appreciate poems more ! I hope you'll do more videos. Love from the Philippines!❤
Great to meet you!
I appreciate your effort , thank you very much
I have an exam and you helped me a lot
This poem is awesome!
I like the song Richard Corey by Simon and Garfunkel and it is great. It reveals what you said about him. I have it on cd and heard it on lp also. The lp sounds much better. I read this poem in college English where I heard the song for the first time. You never know what people are hiding behind sometimes. And great riches do not always make us happy.
I became aware of Richard Cory
Through a Reggae version of the song by Ken Boothe.
I later found it was as song by Simon and Garfunkel.
I found the story fascinating.
Thank you so very much dear Professor Rebecca Balcarcel for your amazing explanation. Your explanation helped me a lot teaching my students
You are amazing! You have truly helped me so much throughout many assignments. So thankful to have come across your videos!
thank for ur help this really help me in my literature test
I’ve wondered about the intended intonation of the final line. It’s unclear whether the speaker’s takeaway is the same as our common reaction that “you just never know”, or “money doesn’t buy happiness.”
As I’ve considered the poem over the years, the final line has become, to me, an expression of disbelief, spoken while shaking his head and in the tone of an interrogatory expressed with a wince, leaving the reader to draw a deeper understanding of the tragedy and find empathy for Richard Cory.
But I could be completely off with that. Anyone?
Great teaching with adorable looks and voice...
I grew up listening to the Simon & Garfunkel song of the same title, which had been inspired by the Robinson poem.
actually robinson won 3 pulitzer prizes: collected poems, the man who died twice, and a trilogy of arthurian poems
Leonardo Stromberg Thanks for the info! I appreciate the correction.
Though one of Robinson's most famous poems, "Richard Cory" is not complicated with multiple meanings. This is not the case with many of Robinson's poems. "Eros Tyrannus" (Love, the Tyrant) and "Luke Havergal" come readily to mind. I look forward to hearing your interpretation of those more challenging pieces.
when I first started watching this, I thought, Oh, she is way overanalyzing... but as it went on, I really enjoyed the presentation.
I think it's more simple than most. Wanting what you have is more important that having what you want. Just my humble opinion.I do love your video by the way. Dr. bill
and also thank you for this, its really help me for my report in english american literature
Ryan Famisaran I'm glad! Good luck with the class!
Very interesting analysis!!
The meaning of this poem is obvious.
I'm student from Srilanka
we are having this poem in literature syllabus
your explanation is helpful ❤
i had a friend that drove a fancy car paid off, had a nice family, flashed a smile to everyone everyday (wore the mask), helped people out day to day... had no Debt... and one day he hung himself... all his suicide note said was " I Was Bored With Life..."
Of course he did
@@misterspetsnaz r/that_really_happened
What about "and we en without the meat and we cursed our daily bread"?
Thank you for breaking down the meaning of this poem because I was so confused
So what are the rich Ricard Cory possessed
Thank you explained great
You're welcome!
Agree!
والله رائعه I am watching from Yemen and I am really impreesed 😍
How do I thank you? A quintillion times
Thank you for your efforts!
I agree.
I believe that he had an unspeakable secret.
Thank you Lady!
Awesome content! Congratulations
this video ASMR'd me.
can you please relate this in realism . thank you for this womderful video
Ryan Famisaran Sorry, I'm grading 150 student papers this week, and they each take 15 to 20 minutes. I'm afraid I won't have time. :-(
SixMinuteScholar its okay
SixMinuteScholar thank you for the information
Hey Rebecca, It is so beautiful that you are helping many students like us, I have subscribed you and am fallowing all ur analysis. I would really appreciate if you would also analysis "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot.
With love light n peace
Suvas Agam
From Nepal.
A challenging piece of writing, "The Waste Land." I'll have to study up for that! We'll see!
Would you be able to do "Big Two-Hearted River"? Thank you!
Ooh, I'm not familiar with that one. I might go find it, though! We'll see.
He actually won three pulitzer prize. Not two.
THANK YOU SO MUCH........
Thank you!
Thank you so much mam
You're welcome!
Very well analyzed, can you do Because I could not stop for death
I have to dispute a couple of points.
First, there's no reason to think being "on the pavement" is denigrating. Remember, this is happening "downtown." So "people on the pavement" would simply be those on the sidewalks, doing their business and chores, at the time. There is nothing in the poem itself to suggest otherwise.
Second, "human when he talked" would naturally mean he didn't come across as superior, as condescending or dismissive, the better to contrast how he acted with how others reacted to him. Again, there is nothing it the poem itself to support your interpretation of this as an admonishment to the "people on the pavement."
Third, "in fine" literally means "in short" or "in sum."
And fourth, I find the notion that the underlying message of the ending is saying to those struggling "Hey! Have some self-respect!" stretches credulity. I know we're free to say "this is my understanding of this," but I still think it's important to distinguish between what is drawn from a poem and what is imposed on it.
Finally, two observations. One is that I agree the idea that we can't know another person's internal life is central to the work. But I think the idea of "Have some self-respect" detracts from that, which is why I can't accept it as an interpretation.
And while I agree that the "calm summer night" adds to the impact of the ending, I think it's real power comes from it's being said in the same even, observational, reportorial tone as the rest. of the poem.
Thanks alot
Maybe the pedestal Cory had been placed on by the pavement people became too heavy a burden. The poem reminds us that until you walk a mile in somebody's shoes, you don't know what their life is like. Be good to each other.
Good shit
I guess if you are explaining it to forth graders but not to mean but really?
i wanna be ur friend lol
Here because of englisch
Death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput brought me here
Tedious deconstrunction
You missed quite a bit based on your bias. Primarily it has to do with you understanding that Robinson was very macabre . Also, despite the royal personna, the human when he talked was relatable. You contidict yourself in saying this is from the townspeople vs the author speaking. The author is saying something very simple. You have overcomplicateded it
Todd Twilley Thanks for pointing this out! So, you're saying that the author is criticizing Richard Cory? I would agree.
Love Simon and Garfunkel inspired me to find more about Richard cory
This a curious misread of this poem, whose meaning is almost self evident. Why did Richard Cory kill himself? Guilt of course. This ultra privileged person living a life envied by all the downtrodden poor was human enough, unlike your average member of the filthy rich, to realize that he was living off the sufferings of others, and did the decent thing. He was more intelligent and perceptive, and perhaps a better person in reality, than the ground down envious narrator.
Please! no disrespect BUT this is one poem that needs NO explanation and does not need a phd pref to do so. Rather clear no deep meaning!!!
When you find something obvious do you often feel the need to point it out?
If the poem is quite self-explanatory, why did you watch this analysis/summary video? Seems counterintuitive, don't you think?
Money can't buy happiness!
it can for some people :P
The intepretation is not so professional
i love your explanations!!!
They Screwed up the lyrics, it's Richard Morrey and i didn't kill myself.
I appreciate your effort , thank you very much
I have an exam and you helped me a lot