[etni] Fw: Ivory Towers

From: "Ask_Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
To: "ETNI" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:24:13 +0300
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "hezi5@014" <hezi5@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Ivory Towers

Hi,
I have just completed the on-line course on the incorporation of HOTS in the
Literature program.
In the program, we were asked to answer a sample exam question on a poem
chosen for the Literature program: Arlington's Richard Cory. Below, I am
posting my answer to the exam question for your perusal:
Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935) is an American poet best known for his
poems about the characters of Tilbury Town, a small, bleak Maine town like
the one where Robinson grew up. His characters suffer the ‘cruelties of life
’”  (Shalvi, A. (Ed.). 1982, EMT Reader. University Publishing Projects:
Israel)
How does this information add to your understanding of Richard Cory?  Give
examples from the poem.
My answer to the Exam Question on Richard Cory
The information provided to me above was very helpful in deepening my
understanding of the poem.
As an average Israeli student, I am well aware from the dates provided above
(and the date of the poem) that we are talking about the late Victorian
early Edwardian era and that this period corresponds with the height of the
Industrial Revolution.
 Since I am a product of the excellent Israeli education system, I am also
aware that during the Industrial Revolution social classes were starkly
defined and difficult to escape. The information about Tilbury being a small
bleak town in Main, immediately conjured up in my mind vivid images of the
tortured lives of industrial workers there. (I don't have to tell you that I
can easily find Maine on the map.)
Since I am aware from my broad general knowledge that living in a small
American town at that time involves a smothering sense of solidarity of the
downtrodden, I now understand why the speaker keeps using the first person
plural, "we", throughout the poem.
I know that Americans have no Royalty but that, paradoxically, they have
their kings and these capitalistic tycoons are perhaps even richer and more
powerful than 'ordinary' kings.
This knowledge enabled me to understand why Arlington describes Richard Cory
in regal terms: for example, Richard Cory is a gentleman from sole to crown,
or that he was imperially slim or that he glittered when he walked.
(I hope I don't have to tell you that I know that very many kings in
Anglo-Saxon history went by the name of Richard.)
And finally, I would like to thank my English teacher my geography teacher
and my history teacher and compliment the examiner/s for his/her/their
excellent exam question which is excellent proof that he or they don’t
reside in the proverbial ivory tower.

Chezi Fine



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[etni] Fw: Ivory Towers

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