Which poem features Richard Cory, a man admired for wealth and manners who ultimately takes his own life?

• A. The Road Not Taken
• B. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
• C. The Waste Land
• D. Richard Cory

Answer: (D)

Recognition of a poem by its central character and the twist in its ending is being tested. The figure described—wealthy, well-mannered, admired by the town for his success—appears flawless on the surface, yet the poem culminates in his suicide, delivering a stark irony: outward signals of happiness don’t guarantee inner peace. That contrast between appearance and reality is the key feature. The other poems present different situations: one focuses on choosing a path, another on a hesitant speaker delaying action, and another on a fragmented, postwar landscape. They do not center on a rich man named Richard Cory and his ultimate act. So the piece that aligns with this description is the poem about Richard Cory, whose outward polish masks a hidden despair.