Literary Device: Irony There are various forms of irony. Irony can involve the use of words to express something different from, and often opposite to, their literal meaning through sarcasm (verbal irony). Irony can also involve a gap or sense of incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs (situational irony). Frequently in plays and other texts, a sense of irony is generated for intended humor and/or suspense when members of the audience are aware of something which a character is oblivious (dramatic irony). Example: The angry postal worker bit the barking dog. How are this sentence and these images examples of irony? Which types of irony are demonstrated in the examples above?

“Richard Cory” Edwin Arlington Robinson Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich - yes, richer than a king - And admirably schooled in every grace; In fine we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.

“Richard Cory” – Author’s Purpose What is the author’s overall poetic purpose or meaning regarding the demise of Richard Cory? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Contrast the details and descriptions of Richard Cory and the lives of the other townspeople in the chart below: Richard CoryTownspeople Though Richard Cory seems to enjoy all of life’s advantages, by the end of the poem the reader learns otherwise – that often despite of or because of life’s multiple pleasures each individual is still capable of experiencing deep pain. “a gentleman”, “Clean favored”, “imperially slim”, “quietly arrayed”, “always human”, “he glittered”, “he was rich”, “admirably schooled in every grace”… “on we worked”, “waited for the light”, “went without the meat”, “cursed the bread”…

“Richard Cory” – Author’s Purpose How would you describe the townspeople’s attitude toward Richard Cory within the first three stanzas? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Where is there a poetic shift in tone and/or perspective within the poem? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ In the first three stanzas of the poem, the unnamed townspeople seem to be extremely envious of Richard Cory’s seemingly comfortable status. In direct opposition to his supposed comfort, the citizens of the town suffer in their miserable existences and wish “we were in his place”. There is a definite sense of poetic shifting within the final stanza of the poem. In the first two lines of the final poetic section, the focus is shifted away from describing the gilded existence of Richard Cory and to instead investigate the dreary lives of the townspeople and Cory’s demise.

“Richard Cory” – Author’s Purpose What is the exact nature of the irony within Robinson’s poem? Which type of irony is employed? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ After listening to the updated song version by Simon Garfunkel, what details were altered and how does this impact the meaning of Richard Cory’s tragic story? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ “Richard Cory” is a ghastly example of irony due to the poem clearly outlining the wonderful qualities concerning his life and the reader’s shock concerning the character’s hidden dissatisfaction or untimely death. This is an example of situational irony because the situation is ironic. This rendition modernizes the details concerning Richard Cory’s life. The most dramatic change is the song is related in singular first person –a more direct view of the resentment and astonishment concerning Cory’s golden, short life.

Answer the essay question below: In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s shocking “Richard Cory”, the author employs an ironic twist to communicate his poetic theme. In a well-organized response, complete with relevant text evidence and commentary, explain how the presence of irony aides the development of Robinson’s poetic theme. Red – Major Writing Task Blue – Minor Insights/Instructions