"Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Question 1

stanza one: the “people on the pavement” look up and want to be Richard Cory

Answer 1

• richer than a king/to make us wish that we were in his place
• the whole town gave this perspective

Question 2

stanza two: ironically, even though people want to be him, he doesn’t want to be himself

Answer 2

• put a bullet in his head

Question 3

what emotions or human experiences is the author exploring?

Answer 3

misplaced jealousy by the townspeople toward cory

Question 4

what is the author saying about that emotion or experience? (overall theme)

Answer 4

• the grass isn’t always greener on the other side

- things aren’t always as they seem

Question 5

tone shift

Answer 5

and richard cory, one calm summer

Question 6

cory

Answer 6

rich

Question 7

irony

Answer 7

everyone wanted to be richard cory

Question 8

supports the idea that richard cory is socially above the rest of the people in the poem

Answer 8

• in fine, we thought he was everything

- we people on the pavement looked up at him

Question 9

end of poem

Answer 9

shocking

Question 10

and richard cory… went home and put a bullet through his head

Answer 10

he didn’t have as good of a life as people thought he did