Edwin Arlington Robinson and Willa Cather

1. Read "The Sculptor's Funeral" by Willa Cather. Discuss how "The Sculptor's Funeral" probes "in a highly self-conscious manner the relationship between the artist and society." (Do ordinary, small-town inhabitants recognize the value of art? Is artistic achievement acknowledged or recognized by ordinary people?) How is this story an example of modernist literature? Use specific evidence (quotes, paraphrased information - all cited) from the text to support your response. 

2. Read Robinson's poems "Richard Cory," "Miniver Cheevy," and "Mr. Flood's Party." 

Directions: Do NOT delete the questions, and please type your responses using a different-colored font. 

"Richard Cory"

Which line in the poem identifies the speaker? Which lines tell you about the economic condition of the speaker?
What is Richard Cory “from sole to crown”? What effect does he have when he says “Good morning”?
What, “in fine,” do the people think of Richard Corey (stanza 3)?
What is the “surprise” ending?
How are the “we” of the poem different from Richard Cory?
What do “crown” (line 3) and imperially” (line 4) indicate about t the speaker’s impression of Richard Cory?
What effect does Cory’s final action seem to have on everyone in Tilbury Town? What does Tilbury Town’s reaction to Cory’s life and death suggest about human understanding?
 

"Miniver  Cheevy"

For what does Cheevy sigh and mourn in the first five stanzas? What does Cheevy curse in the sixth stanza?
What are Cheevy’s feelings about gold, according to the seventh stanza?
To what does Cheevy attribute his unhappiness in line 31? What does he keep on doing, according to the last line of the poem?
What do lines 9-10 reveal about Cheevy’s character? Lines 17-18? Lines 25-26?
Basically, how does Cheevy see himself? How do we see him? What really causes his unhappiness?
Could Richard Cory and Miniver Cheevy be found only in a small Maine town at the turn of the century? Explain your answer
 

"Mr. Flood's Party"

1. Explain the meaning of the poem. 

2. Describe the rhyme pattern, meter, and form. 

3. What is the tone and mood of the poem? Give an example as support. 

4. What does the phrase below mean and why is it significant? (You may need to do further research to answer this question.) Auld lang syne 

5. How are the jug and baby related in this poem? 

 6. What do the lines below mean? Well, Mr. Flood, we have the harvest moon Again and we may not have many more 

7. What do the lines below mean? Where strangers would have shut the many doors That many friends had opened long ago. 

8. What do the lines below mean? "Well, Mr. Flood, we have not met like this In a long time; and many a change has come To both of us, I fear, since last it was We had a drop together. Welcome home!"

9. Discuss how all three of these poems reflect the characteristics of the Modernist movement in literature? (See the information provided concerning "Modernism in Literature" found in this module.)