LESSON NOTES: 1) Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson

2) The Camel’S Hump By Rudyard Kipling

Subject : English Literature 10A

Subject Teacher : Ms Himali Buddhadasa

Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson

BACKGROUND
A particular personality is described with many traits and he emerges as a well-
recognised and well-received gentleman in his locality.However, he ultimately
commits suicide and the reason for his suicide is not exposed .
It is apparent that the poet causes an analysis of society; we admire people with only
their external appearance and behaviour patterns but we are not aware of their
interior character .Appearances are deceptive.
THEME
Human nature is difficult to understand . False social values and different
perspectives of social standards are discussed.
TECHNIQUES
The narrative poem is told through the eyes of the common people who stay on the
pavement watching Richard Cory.
The image of the gentleman is built -up so Richard Cory becomes a symbol for all
that is good about his character.
Flashback method -it is a recollection of memories and so the Simple Past Tense is
used.
Diction-the choice of words used by the poet encourages the image of an excellent
character
e.g a gentleman from sole to crown fluttered pulses
Imperially slim
Hyperbole- ‘richer than a king’
The climax is a paradox (a paradox is where two ideas are contrary (opposite ) to
each other (going against) :- ‘ And Richard Cory ,one summer night
Went home and put a bullet through his head’
QUESTIONS :-
1) Write down the words and phrases used in the poem to describe Richard Cory.
2) Describe the social class background, appearance and the personality of Richard
Cory.
3) What are the themes of the poem?
4) What are the literary devices you find in the poem?Comment on the meanings
and effects of these devices.
5) The poem ends with Richard Cory committing suicide. The cause is not
mentioned .Give your thoughts on why he might have done this.

The Camel’S Hump By Rudyard Kipling

THEME
Common human weaknesses is the theme of the poem . Weaknesses such as
laziness, hesitation to involve in work or displeasure to work hard. This laziness is
simultaneous to the metaphor ‘the cameelious hump’ .Ultimately lazy people are
compared to a camel. The moral of the poem is that man should not be lazy.From
the time one wakes up you should be active and involve in some work.
TECHNIQUES
Throughout the metaphor of the hump and laziness /selfishness is used
Irregular rhyming patterns and long vowel sounds create fun and humour
Primarily aimed at children however adults can find this useful too
Alliteration ,repetition and also allusion (refer to the story of how the camel got its
hump)

This is a summary of the tale called ‘How the Camel Got Its Big Hump’. It would be
useful to understand the background of the poem. Long ago when animals just
began to work for man, there lived a camel in the middle of a desert because he did
not want to work. Presently on a Monday morning a horse came to the camel with a
saddle on his back and said “Camel, O Camel come out and trot like the rest of us”.
“Hump!” said the camel and the horse went away and told the man that the camel
had refused. Presently the dog came with a stick in his mouth and said “Camel, O
Camel come and fetch and carry like the rest of us”. “Hump!” said the camel and the
dog went away and told the man that the camel had refused again. Presently the ox
came with the yoke on his neck and said “Camel, O Camel come and plough like the
rest of us”. “Hump!” said the camel and the ox went away and told the man that the
At the end of the day the man called the three animals and said “The ‘hump thing’
in the desert refuses to work and the three of you should work double time to make
up for it”. The disappointed and angry animals met the Djinn (the magical creature)
in charge of all deserts and complained about the camel’s behavior. The Djinn later
met the camel and requested him to work and told him “It is Thursday and to cover
the three days, you should work without eating”. But the camel only said “Hump”
and no more. Finally the Djinn said, “If I were you I would not say that again” and
requested the camel to work. But the camel said “Hump” again, but no sooner had
he said this, his back began to puff and puff into a big lolloping hump. The Djinn said
“Today is Thursday and you have not worked since Monday. Go and join the three
and work”. The camel, though he refused at the beginning, later joined the three to
work. And from that day to this day the camel has always worn a hump. But he has
never caught up with the three days that he had missed at the beginning.
QUESTIONS
1) The poet seems to be sarcastic about lazy people .Which lines reveal this idea?
2) What feeling is aroused by the 3rd stanza of the poem?
3) What solution does the poet provide as a cure for the developed hump?
4) How well has the poet used humour in conveying the theme of this poem?
Explain the technique used.
5) Do you think there is a special reason for choosing black and blue to describe the
hump?