Edwin Arlington Robinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edwin Arlington Robinson
Born	(1869-12-22)December 22, 1869 Head Tide, Maine, U.S.
Died	April 6, 1935(1935-04-06) (aged 65) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Poet playwright
Education	Gardiner High School Harvard University
Period	1896–1935
Notable awards	Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1922; 1925; 1928)
Partner	Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones
Relatives	David S. Nivison (grandnephew)
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Edwin Arlington Robinson (born December 22, 1869 – died April 6, 1935) was a famous American poet and playwright. He is known for his unique poems that often explored the lives of people in small towns. Robinson won the important Pulitzer Prize for Poetry three times. He was also considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.

Growing Up: Where Did Edwin Arlington Robinson Live?

The Edwin Arlington Robinson House in Gardiner, Maine

Edwin Arlington Robinson was born in Head Tide, Maine, on December 22, 1869. His parents were Edward and Mary Robinson. They had hoped for a girl, so they didn't name him for six months!

One day, while on vacation, other travelers helped choose his name. They picked "Edwin" from a hat. The man who drew the name was from Arlington, Massachusetts, so "Arlington" became his middle name. Edwin didn't like his name or being called "Win" by his family. As an adult, he often signed his name "E. A."

In 1870, Robinson's family moved to Gardiner, Maine. He later said his childhood was "stark and unhappy." He went to Mrs. Morrell's School and then public schools. He graduated from Gardiner High School.

His early life struggles often made his poems a bit sad. They sometimes showed "an American dream gone wrong." His older brother, Dean, was a doctor who faced health challenges. His middle brother, Herman, married a woman Edwin cared for deeply, Emma Löehen Shepherd. Emma encouraged Edwin's poetry.

Learning at Harvard University: What Did Robinson Study?

Robinson in 1888, after graduating from Gardiner High School

In 1891, when he was 21, Robinson went to Harvard University. He was a special student, meaning he took classes without aiming for a full degree. He studied English, French, and Shakespeare. He also took a class on Anglo-Saxon, but he later dropped it.

Robinson didn't try to get perfect grades. He once wrote to a friend, "B, and in that vicinity, is a very comfortable and safe place to hang." His main goal was to have his poems published in Harvard's literary magazines.

Soon after starting, The Harvard Advocate published his poem "Ballade of a Ship." He was even invited to meet the editors. However, he felt shy and told a friend, "I sat there among them, unable to say a word."

Robinson's father passed away after his first year at Harvard. He returned for a second year, but it was his last as a student. Even though his time in Cambridge was short, he made lasting friendships and had many cherished experiences there. By mid-1893, Robinson was back in Gardiner, ready to focus on writing.

Poet's Journey: How Did Robinson Become Famous?

A 1916 portrait of Robinson by Lilla Carbot Perry

After his father's death, Robinson became the main support for his family. He tried farming for a while. He also grew very close to his sister-in-law, Emma, after her husband Herman passed away. Emma moved back to Gardiner with her children. Robinson proposed marriage to her twice, but she declined. After this, he left Gardiner for good.

He moved to New York City. There, he lived as a poet, often without much money. He made friends with other writers, artists, and thinkers. In 1896, he paid $100 to print 500 copies of his first book, The Torrent and the Night Before. He wanted it to be a surprise for his mother, but she died just days before the books arrived.

Robinson's second book, Children of The Night, came out in 1897. More people read this one. One reader was Kermit, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt. Kermit's teacher, who was a friend of Robinson, gave him a copy. Kermit then showed it to his father, the President.

President Roosevelt was impressed by the poems. He knew Robinson was struggling financially. In 1905, he offered Robinson a job at the New York Customs Office. This job was meant to help Robinson focus on his writing. He worked there until Roosevelt left office.

Slowly, Robinson's writing career became more successful. He won the Pulitzer Prize three times: in 1922, 1925, and 1928. In 1927, he was chosen to be a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Other poets described his work as very skillful and clever.

Personal Life: Did Edwin Arlington Robinson Marry?

Robinson never married. For the last 20 years of his life, he spent his summers at the MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. This was a place where artists could work. Several women there admired him greatly.

Robinson had a close friendship with artist Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones. They visited MacDowell at the same times for about ten years. Their relationship was described as "courtly, quiet, and intense." She saw him as a charming, sensitive, and kind man with strong values.

Later Years: When Did Edwin Arlington Robinson Die?

Edwin Arlington Robinson passed away from an illness on April 6, 1935. He died at the New York Hospital (now Weill Cornell Medical Center) in New York City. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner, Maine.

After his death, his friend Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones attended his memorial. She later painted several artworks in his memory. A memorial ceremony was held at Gardiner High School, his old school, that same month. In October, a monument was put up in Gardiner Common. This was thanks to the efforts of his friend and mentor, Laura E. Richards.

Robinson's childhood home in Gardiner was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971. His grandnephew, David S. Nivison, who was an expert in Chinese philosophy, helped manage Robinson's writings and property.

Selected Works: What Did Edwin Arlington Robinson Write?

Poetry Collections

• The Torrent; and The Night Before (1896)
• Children of The Night (1897), which includes "Richard Cory"
• Captain Craig and Other Poems (1902)
• The Town Down the River (1910), which includes "Miniver Cheevy"
• The Man Against the Sky (1916)
• Merlin (1917)
• The Three Taverns (1920)
• Lancelot (1920)
• Collected Poems (1921)
• Tristram (1927)
• Sonnets, 1889-1917 (1928)
• Cavender's House (1929)
• The Glory of the Nightingales (1930)
• Matthias at the Door (1931)
• King Jasper (1935)

Plays

• Van Zorn (1914)
• The Porcupine (1915)

Letters

• Selected Letters (1940)
• Untriangulated Stars: Letters to Harry de Forest Smith 1890-1905 (1947)

See also

In Spanish: Edwin Arlington Robinson para niños