Analysis this poem using formalistic approach. Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935)

Richard Cory

1 Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

2 We people on the pavement looked at him:

3 He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

4 Clean favored, and imperially slim.

5 And he was always quietly arrayed,

6 And he was always human when he talked;

7 But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

8 "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

9 And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

10 And admirably schooled in every grace:

11 In fine, we thought that he was everything

12 To make us wish that we were in his place.

13 So on we worked, and waited for the light,

14 And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

15 And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

16 Went home and put a bullet through his head.

 

Answer:

Analysis of the poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson (this is based on my analysis, you can use this as your reference 

Looks can be deceiving.

This is how the poem was started by the speaker- introducing Richard Cory, a well-refined, wise and upper class man. He is the star in the community, where low class people always stare at him perfectly. From head to toe, he was envied by the people, and the speaker describe them as indistinguishable from one another, expect for Richard Cory whose the only stand out. The last line shown how morally upright he is.

In the second stanza, this has been a continuous appreciation for him, using the word "And he was.." Richard Cory has been outspoken and he intends not to get attention to the people. As stated in the poem, Richard greets simply every morning, just like ordinary people did. This only shows how humble and respectful Richard is. 

The third stanza reveals how total package he is. To confirm, he is a rich man, richer than the king. Many people admired him, his mere perfection.  Everyone prefers to be like Richard, who has a great quality life. Notice the third line in the stanza, "In fine, we thought that he was everything". This line signifies what would happen next to his story. 

The last stanza revealed what happened next to Richard. But before that, people in the community was in their struggles, take a look at the words "worked" and "waited", which are typical words for middle-class people, unlike Richard who has it all in life. Little did they know, he also has its suffering till it came to the point that he shot himself in his home. it was not mentioned in the poem the reason, but this act only exemplifies that he is into struggles as well. The poem ended as puzzling to the reader, and made the speaker and the people shocked. 

The morale of this poem is that, behind those glittering and perfection a person lives, there are still flaws, imperfections and dark times existing to someone.