Introduction

In this lesson, the teacher introduces Edwin Arlington Robinson and his poetry, Carl Sandburg and his poetry, and Sinclair Lewis. The focus of the lesson is on Edwin Arlington Robinson.

Background Information

• The teacher briefly mentions Carl Sandburg and Sinclair Lewis but states that the focus will be on Edwin Arlington Robinson.

• The teacher asks who will talk about Edwin Arlington Robinson.

• There is a brief interruption where someone asks if the teacher can be heard.

• The teacher confirms that they can be heard.

Edwin Arlington Robinson

This section provides an overview of Edwin Arlington Robinson's life and work.

Life and Work

• The teacher describes Robinson as a poet of transition who lived after the Civil War during America's Reconstruction period when the country became richer and more materialistic.

• Robinson was a pessimistic poet who wrote in traditional forms and themes.

• The teacher mentions that Robinson wrote at the turn of the 20th century during the modernist literary movement in Europe and America.

"Richard Cory"

This section analyzes Edwin Arlington Robinson's poem "Richard Cory."

Stanza 1

• Richard Cory is introduced as a central character who draws attention from people due to his admirable appearance.

• People admire him for being well-dressed, handsome, wealthy, educated, and interesting.

Stanza 2

• Richard Cory is described as modest, good-natured, sincere, consistent, warm-hearted person who does not look down on common people.

• He is wealthy but not arrogant, and he treats everyone with respect.

Conclusion

• The teacher concludes that Richard Cory is a good man who has everything going for him.

Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson

This transcript discusses the poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, exploring the themes of appearance versus reality, envy, and the single effect theory in poetry.

Appearance vs. Reality

• The writer wants to draw attention to the conflict between appearances and reality.

• Although Richard Cory appears perfect, he could have problems like any other person.

• The poem teaches us not to judge a person solely based on their appearance.

Envy and Single Effect Theory

• People are jealous of Richard Cory because they admire him.

• The single effect theory suggests that a short story or poem should evoke one emotion in the reader.

• Envy is suggested as a possible single effect for this poem.

Poetic Devices

• Metaphors are used throughout the poem to convey emotions such as fear, admiration, and revenge.

• Fictional irony is present in the description of Richard Cory's life.

• The surprise ending of Richard Cory's suicide adds dramatic irony to the poem.

Life Lessons

• Money cannot buy happiness or bring friends or family.

• We should not judge people based solely on their appearance.

Overall, this transcript provides an analysis of "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson. It explores themes such as appearance versus reality, envy, poetic devices used in the poem, and life lessons that can be learned from it.

Robinson and Transition

The discussion focuses on the transition period in America during the early 20th century, and how Robinson's poetry reflects this change.

Robinson as a Poet of Transition

• Robinson is considered a poet of transition.

• This transition refers to the shift from the 19th century to the 20th century, as well as historical and literary movements.

• America underwent a reconstruction period after the Civil War, becoming a superpower with a more materialistic society.

• Robinson's poetry reflects this change, making him both a realist and modernist writer.

Discussion Questions

The section covers some of the discussion questions related to Richard Corey.

Reasons for Corey's Suicide

• It is unclear why Richard Corey killed himself.

• Although there seems to be nothing wrong with his life, there are many reasons given in the poem for his suicide.

Symbolism of Light

• The light in the first line of the fourth stanza symbolizes hope for poor people.

Richard Corey as Modernist

• Richard Corey is not a symbol of modernism; he is simply the protagonist of the poem.

Economic Depressions and Modernism

The discussion begins with a mention of economic depressions, followed by a comparison between modernism and the richness of America. The group discusses Richard Corey's morality and emotional side, as well as the conflict between appearances and reality.

Modernism vs Richness

• Modernism is different from the richness of America.

• Industrialization led to cultural change in American society, causing people to lose their morality and become more like machines.

• There is no proof that Richard Corey lacks morality, but he appears unhappy despite his wealth.

Appearances vs Reality

• Appearances can be illusionary.

• Richard Corey may be struggling to adapt to the changing society.

Carl Sandburg's Literary Personality

The presenter gives an overview of Carl Sandburg's literary personality, including his views on capitalism and his use of colloquial language. They then analyze Sandburg's poem "The Harbor" for its dualities.

Carl Sandburg's Literary Personality

• Sandburg was a modernist and socialist who wrote ballads, books for children, and serious poetry.

• "The Harbor" explores dualities in American society.

Analysis of "The Harbor"

• The poem describes the contrast between the ugliness of slums and the grace of nature.

• The poem is lyrical and explores dualities.

Understanding the Pessimism of Lower Class People in Slums

The speaker discusses how pessimism is dominant among lower class people living in slums due to poverty and poor living conditions.

Key Points:

• The lines in the poem describe the lives of lower class people living in slums, who are poor and have ugly houses.

• These people have no jobs and spend their time chatting or gossiping with each other. They are also hungry.

• The poem contrasts the pessimistic image of slum life with a more optimistic one at the city's edge, where there is urbanization and beauty in nature.

• The writer criticizes rapid urbanization and suggests that returning to nature is more nurturing for people.

Contrasting Images of Hopelessness and Freedom

This section explores contrasting images of hopelessness and freedom presented in the poem.

Key Points:

• The poem describes white bellies flying freely in the open air, symbolizing freedom and natural beauty.

• This contrasted with earlier descriptions of hunger, poverty, desperation, and ugliness associated with slum life.

• The poem also criticizes rapid urbanization resulting from migration from villages to cities.

Difficulty Understanding the Poem

The speaker expresses difficulty in understanding the poem due to its language and symbolism.

Language and Symbolism

• The speaker couldn't hear the teacher clearly.

• The poem's language is difficult to understand due to its use of symbolism.

• The teacher corrects the student's pronunciation of "description."

Realism in "The Harbor"

The speaker discusses how "The Harbor" can be considered a realist poem.

Realism

• "The Harbor" is an easy-to-read and understand poem that can be considered realist.

• The writer contrasts urbanization with nature, highlighting innocence as a theme.

Introduction to "I Am the People, the Mob"

The speaker introduces Carl Sandburg's poem, "I Am the People, the Mob," and discusses its themes.

Themes

• Carl Sandburg is a socialist writer who aims to convey deep meaning through his work.

• "I Am the People, the Mob" criticizes governance management against working-class people.

• Socialism prescribes equality among all classes and aims to balance economic conditions between them.

• Capitalism creates gaps between classes and is not a good system for people according to Sandburg.

Note that there was some confusion and interruption during the discussion of socialism, so some details may be unclear.

Analysis of the Poem "I Am The People" by Carl Sandburg

In this section, the speaker discusses the poem "I Am The People" by Carl Sandburg and its themes related to industrialization and the working class.

Key Themes in the Poem

• The poem highlights the importance of unity among the working class.

• The narrator represents the people, particularly those in the lower or working class.

• The lower class is often referred to as a mob or mess, which reflects how they are viewed by society and governments.

• Despite being undervalued, the lower class is responsible for many important contributions to society such as inventing and producing food and clothing.

• As witnesses to history, members of the lower class have produced important figures such as Napoleon and Lincoln.

• Soldiers also come from the lower class, highlighting their importance to society.

Message of the Poem

• The writer gives a message that we must not despise or humiliate those in the lower class. Soldiers who defend our country also come from this group.

Agriculture and Siege

The speaker discusses the importance of agriculture and how it relates to the working class. They also use a metaphor of terrible storms passing over to describe difficult situations.

Importance of Agriculture

• The working class is often involved in agriculture.

• Agriculture is important for survival during difficult times.

• Terrible storms passing over is a metaphor for difficult situations.

Government and Society

• The government and society consume and exploit the lower class.

• Forgetting and forgiving perpetuates the situation.

• Resistance is necessary for change.

Lessons from Yesterday

The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning from past mistakes, not forgetting who has wronged you, and speaking up against injustice.

Learning from Past Mistakes

• Learning lessons from the past is crucial.

• Remembering who has wronged you is important.

Speaking Up Against Injustice

• The lower class must speak up against injustice.

• Becoming a group will lead to recognition in society.

Carl Sandburg's "I am the People, the Mob" Poem

In this section, the speaker discusses Carl Sandburg's poem "I am the People, the Mob" and its message to lower-class working people.

The Importance of Respectable Personality

• A respectable personality is a foreshadowing for one's future.

• Lower class people must change their attitudes and ideas about themselves to become respectable.

• Expressing oneself properly is key to showing one's ideas and being respected.

Optimism in "I am the People, the Mob"

• The poem starts with a pessimistic tone but ends on an optimistic note.

• Change is possible when lower class people come together and learn from past mistakes.

• The phrase "the people will live on" means that there will always be working-class people who must learn their identity and importance in society.

Realism in Sandburg's Faith in the People

• Sandburg's faith in the people is reasonable given his background and context.

Class Discussion on Robinson and Carl Sandburg

In this section, the speaker asks the class if they have any questions or comments about Robinson or Carl Sandburg.

Questions and Comments

• The speaker asks the class if they have any questions or comments about Robinson or Carl Sandburg.

• The speaker thanks the class for their participation.