Honors American Literature – 29
Danielle Dresen
Leslie Lee
Illusions
Have you ever heard the phrase, “be thankful for what you have?” Or perhaps, “never judge a book by its cover.” It is most likely that you have, seeing as these are both popular phrases with which we use to convey the importance of gratitude and understanding. Whether you agree with these phrases or not, Edgar Lee Masters and Edwin Arlington Robinson do; so much so that they have incorporated them into the themes of their poems, “Lucinda Matlock” and “Richard Cory.” From the moment you begin reading the two poems, it is clear to see that they have contrasting tones. The dramatic tone of “Richard Cory” is clear from the first line, where as Edgar Lee Masters opts for …show more content…
Narrative poetry refers to poems with which tell the story of a character through the use of point of view, as well as descriptive imagery. “Richard Cory” tells the story of Richard Cory, a wealthy man who appears to have it all. As he travels through the town we learn of his character through the towns people who envy his success, and fantasize about the life he lives. As readers we interpret their observations and assume that Cory is living the good life. However, to our surprise, Cory ends up committing suicide at the end of the poem. On the other hand, “Lucinda Matlock” tells the story of Lucinda who is a wife, mother, and overall hard worker. As we read the poem we being informed of the various stages of Lucinda’s life. She describes meeting her husband, caring for her family, as well as the working-class life she lived. However, towards the end of the poem we learn that Lucinda does not feel as though she has loved her life, because she has failed to live it. Both poems include great vivid imagery, as well as information regarding the characters, such as their actions, feelings, and …show more content…
Robinson’s “Richard Cory” illustrates a more traditional writing style, as opposed to Masters “Lucinda Matlock” which conveys a more modern style. In “Richard Cory” the poem follows a set structure of four stanzas containing four lines in each, where as “Lucinda Matlock” does not have a set structure, it does not include any stanzas at all. In addition to this, “Lucinda Matlock” is written in free verse, thus why the tone of the poem is very conversational and informal. Due to the free verse, the poem lacks a rhyme scheme. These elements differ greatly from Robinson’s poem. In “Richard Cory” the poem takes on a formal factor, and because it is a traditional poem is illustrates both an end rhyme and an internal rhyme. In addition to this, an iambic pentameter is also included. The style with which each poem is written in greatly affects its overall tone and mood. Moreover, it assists in conveying the underlying meanings of
Danielle Dresen
Leslie Lee
Illusions
Have you ever heard the phrase, “be thankful for what you have?” Or perhaps, “never judge a book by its cover.” It is most likely that you have, seeing as these are both popular phrases with which we use to convey the importance of gratitude and understanding. Whether you agree with these phrases or not, Edgar Lee Masters and Edwin Arlington Robinson do; so much so that they have incorporated them into the themes of their poems, “Lucinda Matlock” and “Richard Cory.” From the moment you begin reading the two poems, it is clear to see that they have contrasting tones. The dramatic tone of “Richard Cory” is clear from the first line, where as Edgar Lee Masters opts for …show more content…
Narrative poetry refers to poems with which tell the story of a character through the use of point of view, as well as descriptive imagery. “Richard Cory” tells the story of Richard Cory, a wealthy man who appears to have it all. As he travels through the town we learn of his character through the towns people who envy his success, and fantasize about the life he lives. As readers we interpret their observations and assume that Cory is living the good life. However, to our surprise, Cory ends up committing suicide at the end of the poem. On the other hand, “Lucinda Matlock” tells the story of Lucinda who is a wife, mother, and overall hard worker. As we read the poem we being informed of the various stages of Lucinda’s life. She describes meeting her husband, caring for her family, as well as the working-class life she lived. However, towards the end of the poem we learn that Lucinda does not feel as though she has loved her life, because she has failed to live it. Both poems include great vivid imagery, as well as information regarding the characters, such as their actions, feelings, and …show more content…
Robinson’s “Richard Cory” illustrates a more traditional writing style, as opposed to Masters “Lucinda Matlock” which conveys a more modern style. In “Richard Cory” the poem follows a set structure of four stanzas containing four lines in each, where as “Lucinda Matlock” does not have a set structure, it does not include any stanzas at all. In addition to this, “Lucinda Matlock” is written in free verse, thus why the tone of the poem is very conversational and informal. Due to the free verse, the poem lacks a rhyme scheme. These elements differ greatly from Robinson’s poem. In “Richard Cory” the poem takes on a formal factor, and because it is a traditional poem is illustrates both an end rhyme and an internal rhyme. In addition to this, an iambic pentameter is also included. The style with which each poem is written in greatly affects its overall tone and mood. Moreover, it assists in conveying the underlying meanings of