"And went without the meat..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Lines thirteen and fourteen feature alliteration, or the repetition of consonant sounds. The speaker creates a musical, almost pleasant tone by repeating the soft liquid consonant “w” in the words “we,” “worked,” “waited,” “went,” and “without.” However, the gentleness of that tone is at odds with the grim cycle of work and hunger that is being described. The contrast between the lines’ tone and their content foreshadows r the news that Richard Cory has died by suicide, thus sharpening the emotional impact of the tragic event. As a result, the reader experiences some of the shock that the townspeople presumably felt when they discovered that such a rich man was so unhappy that he ended his life
"he was everything
To make us..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Lines eleven and twelve use enjambment, in which an idea or phrase that begins in one line continues into subsequent lines. Here, enjambment creates anticipation for the climax in the final stanza by unexpectedly speeding up the poem’s rhythm.
Robinson makes use of polysyndeton in these lines. Polysyndeton is a device in which conjunctions like “and,” “or,” or “but” are used in rapid succession, often when they would not otherwise be needed. By repeating the conjunction “and” in lines nine and ten, as well as in lines five and six, Robinson draws the reader’s attention to important information about Richard Cory’s character.
"And he was rich—..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Line nine features a caesura, or a break within a line of verse caused by punctuation. The speaker emphasizes Richard Cory’s wealth by interrupting his description with an em dash (—). Robinson’s use of a caesura also augments the power of the hyperbole he employs when comparing Richard Cory’s wealth to that of a king by isolating it within the line.
"yes, richer than a king..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
The speaker employs a hyperbole, or an exaggeration made for the sake of emphasis, by declaring that Richard Cory is “richer than a king.” It is quite unlikely that a gentleman would be richer than a king; however, such an exaggeration suggests that the townspeople are incapable of imagining Richard Cory as a regular person, despite his efforts to treat them as his equals.
Robinson repeats the phrases “And he was always” and “when he” in lines five, six, seven, and eight, the speaker calls attention to important aspects of Richard Cory’s character: he is modestly dressed, polite, and wealthy. The emotional impact of what happens to Richard Cory later is heightened by this repetition.
"And he was always..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Lines five and six feature anaphora, or the repetition of words at the beginning of successive lines or phrases. Here, the repetition of the phrase “And he was always” reinforces the poem’s rhythm while also highlighting important qualities of Richard Cory’s character—specifically, that he is consistently humble and never treats the townspeople like his inferiors.
