Edwin-Arlington-Robinson.ppt

,EdwinArlingtonRobinson(1869-1935),RobinsonisthefirstimportantpoetofthetwentiethcenturyPoetoftransitionPulitzerPrizewinnerforthreetimes,EdwinArlingtonRobinsonwasbornonDecember22,1869,inHeadTide,Maine.HisfamilymovedtoGardiner,Maine,in1870,whichrenamedTilburyTown,becamethebackdropformanyofRobinsonspoems.,Biography,Robinsondescribedhischildhoodasstarkandunhappy.BornandraisedinMainetoawealthyfamily,hewastheyoungestofthreesonsandnotgroomedtotakeoverthefamilybusiness.Instead,hepursuedpoetrysincechildhood,joiningthelocalpoetrysocietyasitsyoungestmember.,Biography,HeattendedHarvard,buthispersonallifewassoonbesetbyachainoftragediesthatarereflectedinhiswork.Hisfatherdied,thefamilywentbankrupt,oneofhisbrothersbecameamorphineaddict,andhismothercontractedandeventuallydiedfromblackdiphtheria.,Biography,RobinsonspenttwoyearsstudiedatHarvardUniversityasaspecialstudentandhisfirstpoemswerepublishedintheHarvardAdvocate.Robinsonprivatelyprintedandreleasedhisfirstvolumeofpoetry,TheTorrentandtheNightBefore,in1896athisownexpense.Shortlyafter,hemetawoman,EmmaShepherd,withwhomhefelldeeplyinlove,buthewasalsoconvincedthatmarriageandfamilialresponsibilitieswouldhinderhisworkasapoet,soheintroducedhertohiseldestbrother,whomarriedher.,Biography,Unabletomakealivingbywriting,hegotajobasaninspectorfortheNewYorkCitysubwaysystem.In1902hepublishedCaptainCraigandOtherPoems.ThisworkreceivedlittleattentionuntilPresidentTheodoreRooseveltwroteamagazinearticlepraisingitandRobinson.RooseveltalsoofferedRobinsonasinecureinaU.S.CustomsHouse,ajobheheldfrom1905to1910.Robinsondedicatedhisnextwork,TheTownDowntheRiver(1910),toRoosevelt.,RobinsonsfirstmajorsuccesswasTheManAgainsttheSky(1916).Forthelasttwenty-fiveyearsofhislife,RobinsonspenthissummersattheMacDowellColonyofartistsandmusiciansinPeterborough,NewHampshire.Robinsonnevermarriedandledanotoriouslysolitarylifestyle.,Biography,HewonthePulitzerPrize(普利策奖)forPoetrythreetimes:in1922forhisfirstCollectedPoems,in1925forTheManWhoDiedTwice,andin1928forTristram.Withhisevenstartingtodrinkagain,claimingthathewasdoingittoprotestProhibition.Hepublishedregularlyuntilthedayhedied,inNewYorkCityin1935.HediedinNewYorkCityonApril6,1935.new-foundfameandfortune,hemadearadicalchangeinhislifestyletoo,tendingtohimself.,Biography,HisWorksCollectionofpoetry,1896TheTorrentandtheNightBefore急流与昨夜1897TheChildrenoftheNight夜之子1910TheTownDowntheRiver河下游的城镇1916TheManAgainsttheSky天边人影TriologyofArthurianpoem,Merlin墨林Lancelot朗塞洛Tristram特里斯丹,poems,TheGloryoftheNightingales夜莺的荣耀1930年KingJasper贾斯珀国王1935年TheHouseontheHill山巅之屋MiniverCheevy米尼弗契维,RobinsonsWritingStyle,Robinsonspoetrywasstylisticallysimpleandneat,anditfitsthecommonpreconceptionthateveryoneseemstothinkofwhentheyhearthewordpoetry.Itrhymes,withbasicrhymeschemes,hassimplefeetandmeter,andhasaconsciouslylyrical,musicalconstruction.Itisdividedintosegments,usuallyofquatrainsorsomeotherpoeticconvention.Intermsofform,RobinsonowesmuchmoretohisEnglishpoeticalpioneerssuchShakespeare,BenJohnson,andJohnMiltonthantothosewhowerehisAmericanpoeticcontemporaries,writerssuchasWaltWhitmanandWallaceStevens,whowereintroducingnewstylesrootedinfreeverse.,Robinsonswritingwasforevershapedbytheconflictsandproblemsofhislifeandthelivesofthosearoundhim.Mostofthesecharacters:DuringhisformativeyearsgrowingupinGardiner,mostofthemresideinfictionalNewEnglandareasinpersonalfailure,frustrateddesires,andsimplebadluck.ThebestexamplesoftheseburnedoutcharactersarethesubjectsofRobinsonstwomostoftenreprintedpoemsRichardCoryandMiniverCheevy.,Thisveryreal-life,non-romantictakeatwriting,especiallyintherealmofpoetry,wasananomalyinthetimeofWhitmans,andEmersons.Thesewriterswrotepersonalpiecesthatweremoreidealisticandtheoreticalthantrulypersonal.,Robinsonswritingsweretrueexercisesinpersonalexpression.Hiswritingsweretryingtoexpressthingsandtruthsthathehadseen,ideasthathebelievedin,asopposedtosimplybeingavehicleforthinlydisguisedlifelessons.Robinsonsreal-lifealcoholisminMiniverCheevyandMr.FloodsParty,weretherealoflife,notthepolishedcelebrationoflifethatwascommoninothersworks.,RichardCory理查德科里,WheneverRichardCorywentdowntown,WepeopleonthepavementlookedathimHewasagentlemanfromsoletocrown,Cleanfavored,andimperiallyslim.Andhewasalwaysquietlyarrayed,Andhewasalwayshumanwhenhetalked;Butstillheflutteredpulseswhenhesaid,Good-morningandheglitteredwhenhewalked.,理查德科里一到街头，行人总要注目瞻望；一派君子风度，眉清目秀，伟岸颀长。举止谦和沉稳，谈吐文雅大方；一声“早安”令人怦然心动，他迈开步子溢彩流光。,他有富可敌国的家产，他有全知全能的教养，他是万民效仿的标准，他是大众追求的榜样。人们不停劳作，苦苦盼望，一日三餐只有难吃的粗粮；可他在一个平静的夏夜回到家里，用一颗子弹打碎自己的脑浆。,Andhewasrichyes,richerthanaking,Andadmirablyschooledineverygrace:Infine,wethoughtthathewaseverythingTomakeuswishthatwewereinhisplace.Soonweworked,andwaitedforthelight,Andwentwithoutthemeat,andcursedthebread;AndRichardCory,onecalmsummernight,Wenthomeandputabulletthroughhishead.,RichardCory（Arichchilde贵公子）,Itwasfirstpublishedin1897,aspartofTheChildrenoftheNight,havingbeencompletedinJulyofthatyear,andremainsoneofRobinsonsmostpopularandanthologizedpoems.Duringthecompositionofthepoem,theUSeconomywasstillsufferingfromtheseveredepressionofthePanicof1893,duringwhichpeopleoftensubsistedonday-oldbread,alludedtointhepoemsprominenceofpovertyandwealth,andfoodstuffs.,ItwasthoughttorefertoEdwinsbrotherHermanbyEmma,(mentionedbefore:awomanwhocourtedallthreeRobinsonbrothersandeventuallymarriedHerman,owingtohisgoodlooksandfuturefinancialprospects)atragicpoem,reflectsinitsspiritthetragediesinRobinsonsownlife:Bothofhisbrothersdiedyoung,hisfamilysufferedfinancialfailures,andRobinsonhimselfenduredhardshipbeforehispoetrygainedrecognitionthanksinparttopraisefromaninfluentialreaderofthem,TheodoreRoosevelt.,RichardCory,structureissimpleandclassic.Therhymeschemeissetupinabasicababcdcdefefghghpattern,withthelinesdividedupintofourstanzas,quatrainstobeexact.Thefeetandmeterofthelinesarealsoclassic.iniambicpentameter,oneoftheoldestmetersusedinEnglishverse.,AnalysisofRichardCory,ThefirsttwolinessuggestRichardCorysdistinction,hisseparationfromordinaryfolk.Thesecondtwotellwhatitisinhisnaturalappearancethatsetshimoff.Thenexttwomentionthehabitualdemeanorthatelevateshimstillmoreinmensregard:hisapparentlackofvanity,hisrejectionoftheeminencethathisfellowswouldaccordhim.Atthebeginningofthethirdstanza,richmightseemtobeananticlimaxbutnotintheeyesofordinaryAmericans;Though,asthesecondlineindicates,theywouldnotliketohaveitthoughtthatintheireyeswealthiseverything,Thelasttwolinesofthestanzarecordatotalimpressionofalifethatperfectlyrealizesthedreamthatmostmenhaveofanidealexistence;whilethefirsttwolinesofthelaststanzabringusbackwithbitteremphasistothepoemsbeginning,andtheimpassablegulf,formostpeoplebutnot,theythink,forRichardCorybetweendreamandfact.Thusthefirstfourteenlinesareapainstakingpreparationforthelasttwo,withtheirstunningoverturnofthepopularbelief.Itishumannaturetowanttobeadmiredandhonored.Thisisnotright,though.Eachandeveryonepersonshouldbehappywithwhotheyarebecausejustimagineifeveryonewereperfectandthesame.Theworldwouldbequiteboring.,theme,(1)Appearancesaredeceivingor,putanotherway,youcanttellabookbyitscover.(2)Youcantjudgepeoplebywhattheyhave,butonlybywhattheyare.Itturnsoutthatbeneathhisveneerofwealthandrespectability,RichardCoryisadeeplydisturbed,veryunhappyman.Eventhoughhehaseverythinginonesense,hehasnothinginanother.Heisawealthypauper.(3)Moneycantbuyhappiness.Evenamanofwealth,breeding,andprivilege,whoseemstohaveattainedtheidealdegreeofhumanposition,respectandmaterialcomfort,maybeplaguedbyemotionalorpsychologicaldistressunknowntooutsidersdistresssoseverethatsuicidemayappeartheonlymeansofescape.,MiniverCheevy,MiniverCheevy,childofscorn,GrewleanwhileheassailedtheseasonsHeweptthathewaseverborn,Andhehadreasons.MiniverlovedthedaysofoldWhenswordswerebrightandsteedswereprancing;ThevisionofawarriorboldWouldsendhimdancing.,Miniversighedforwhatwasnot,Anddreamed,andrestedfromhislabors;HedreamedofThebesandCamelot,AndPriamsneighbors.MinivermournedtheriperenownThatmadesomanyanamesofragrant;HemournedRomance,nowonthetown,AndArt,avagrant.MiniverlovedtheMedici,Albeithehadneverseenone;HewouldhavesinnedincessantlyCouldhehavebeenone.,MinivercursedthecommonplaceAndeyedakhakisuitwithloathing:HemissedthemedievalgraceOfironclothing.Miniverscornedthegoldhesought,Butsoreannoyedwashewithoutit;Miniverthought,andthought,andthought,Andthoughtaboutit.,MiniverCheevy,borntoolate,Scratchedhisheadandkeptonthinking;Minivercoughed,andcalleditfate,Andkeptondrinking.,MiniverCheevy,anarrativepoempublishedin1921inCollectedPoemsItrelatesthestoryofahopelessromanticwhospendshisdaysthinkingaboutwhatmighthavebeenifonlyhehadbeenbornearlierintime.MiniverCheevyisgenerallyregardedasaself-portrait.Thetone,characteristicssketchedbyRobinsonandsharedbythepoetandMiniver,andthesatirichumorofthepoemallleadtothatinterpretation.,StructureThestructureofMiniverCheevyisneatlysymmetrical,containingeightfour-linestanzas(quatrains).Thefirstandthirdlinesofeachstanzahavemasculineendrhyme,andthesecondandfourthlineshavefeminineendrhyme.Masculinerhymeoccurswhenthefinalsyllableofalinerhymeswiththefinalsyllableofanotherline.Femininerhymeoccurswhenthefinaltwosyllablesofalinerhymewiththefinaltwosyllablesofanotherline.RobinsonbeginsthefirstlineofeachstanzawithMiniverandthethirdlineofeachstanzawitheitherheorMiniver.Healsolengthensthesecondlineofeachstanzaandshortensthelastlineofeachstanza,enablinghimtopresentthelongandtheshortofMiniversmisery.Inaddition,herhetoricallyparallelstheopeningsofthesecond,third,andfourthstanzaswiththeopeningsofthefifth,sixth,andseventhstanzas.Theopeninglineoftheeighthstanzathenrhetoricallyparallelstheopeninglineofthefirststanza.,InthispoemRobinsondoesnotsympathizewithMiniver,butlampoonshisfaultsandlaughsathimwithoutreserveineveryline.”Thepoemscombinationoffeminineendingsandshortfinalstanzaiclinescontributetothesatiriceffect.Furthermore,bymakinghischaracterludicrous,RobinsonmakesclearwithinthecontextofthepoemthatMiniverisoutoftunewiththeage.,Themes,EscapingRealityMiniverCheevyescapestheburdensofeverydaylifebydreamingofbygonedaysandsoothinghimselfwithabottleofliquor.Itisnormal,ofcourse,tothinkaboutthepast;butitisabnormaltodwellonitconstantly.MiniverCheevyisasatiricalportraitofafailureinTilburyTown.Hislifeconsistsoffutileyearningsandfrustration.Theimpossibilityofbeinginthepastmakesasuccessfullifeimpossible,soCheevyisdoomedtohisthinkingof“fate”anddrinking.,IndepictingMiniverCheevyasamisfitdreamer,RobinsonsatirizestheMiniversoftheworldwhospendtoomuchtimedwellingonthethegoodolddaysinsteadoflivinginthepresent.But,paradoxically,healsosatirizesMiniversfinanciallysuccessfulcontemporariesfordebasingthepast.,Satire,RationalizationMiniverrationalizesthatfateisatfaultforhisfailure,asline31pointsout.Howcouldhebeblamedforbeingborninthewrongplaceatthewrongtime?,mordernRobinsonsworldisanaturalisticinnature.HereGodisnolongercaring;mensufferfromfrustrationsofwantofmutualunderstanding,andlifeisingeneralfutileandmeaningless.TheserevealRobinsonasamodernpoet,capableofatragicvisioninstepwiththemodernspirit,tryingtosuggestadespairingcouragetoseekoutthemeaningoflife,whichiscalled“Optimisticdesperation.”,Writingstyle,traditionalRobinsoniscarefulwiththesoundofhispoemsandthesoundofeachword.Hisdictioniscarefullychosentoproducemusicaleffects.Heisquitetraditionalinhisuseofpoeticforms.Hisshortpoemsemploythesonnetform,quatrains,intricatemetric,stanzastructuresandrhymepatterns.,ComparingRichardCoryandMiniverCheevy,SimilarityInEdwinArlingtonRobinsonspoems,“RichardCory”and“MiniverCheevy”,thetwomaincharactersarebothportrayedasoutcastsandtheyareshunnedfromsociety.Oneseeminglyiswelloffandcontentwithhislife,theotheroutwardlyismiserable.ThepeopleonthepavementholdRichardCoryinsohighesteemthathebecomesanoutcastwithintheirsociety.MiniverCheevyhasdonenothingsocietyhastoldhimtothereforeheissocietyoutcast.Neitherofthesecharactersisacceptedintheirownlifeandneithercanfaceanotherday.Theybothhaveaneedtoescapethepresent.,DifferenceFirstofall,thestatusandthevaluationofthesecharactersisdifferent.RichardCory,Awealthyman,isadmiredandenviedbythosewhoconsiderthemselveslessfortunatethanhim.Heisdepictedasanalmostperfectmanwhoisimperiallyslim,agentlemanfromsoletocrown,richerthanaking,even“wethoughtheiseverything.”Ontheopposite,MiniverCheevy,childofscornhasnothingtobeadmiredforandhehasdonenothingwithhislifebutdreamedadventure