Suggestions for Reading
1. A good introduction to Mr. Robinson’s work is Miss Lowell’s review of his Collected Works, in the Dial, 72 (’22): 130. Although Miss Lowell’s contention that Mr. Robinson is our greatest living poet would be disputed by some critics, her article suggests many points of departure in the study of his very important contribution to American poetry.
2. Divide Mr. Robinson’s work into two groups: (1) poems of which the material is based upon literature; (2) those of which it comes from his own life experience. Is it possible to say now which of these two groups has the best chance of long endurance? Can you decide how far literature has had a good effect upon Mr. Robinson’s work, and how far it has lessened the value of his poetry?
3. Consider as a group the poems that grow out of Mr. Robinson’s New England origin. In what ways is he characteristic of New England? Compare his work with that of Mr. Frost in this respect.
4. Compare and contrast Mr. Robinson’s portraits of persons with names as titles with similar portraits in the Spoon River Anthology. This type of verse seems to have been developed independently by both poets.
5. An interesting study could be made of the influence on Robinson of Crabbe; another, of the influence of Hardy.
6. Another interesting study might grow out of the consideration of Robinson as a poet born twenty years too soon. How much has the temper of his work been determined by the fact that he had to wait so long for recognition?
7. What are the main features of Mr. Robinson’s philosophy as suggested in the poems?
8. Can you find many poems that sing? What is to be said of the poet’s mastery of rhythms?
9. After reading the best of Mr. Robinson’s work, it is interesting to look up the comments of various admirers of it published on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday, in the New York Times, December 21, 1919, or the quotations from this article in Poetry, 15 (’20): 265, and to see how far your judgment bears out these extravagant statements.