Page 104 - 100 Best Loved Poems - Teaching Unit

“Miniver Cheevey”
by Edwin Arlington Robinson, pages 82-83

Vocabulary

assailed – attacked
albeit – even though; although
diction – choice of words
incessantly – without stopping

1. Why does Miniver Cheevy drink and accomplish so little?

Miniver Cheevy accomplishes very little because he is fixated on how much more exciting
life must have been in earlier centuries.

2. What does Robinson refer to when he uses the words “iron clothing”?

Robinson refers to suits of armor.

3. The last two lines of the next-to-last stanza read: “Miniver thought, and thought, and
thought, And thought about it.”

What is the effect of the repetition of the phrase “and thought”? Why do you think
Robinson did not simply write “Miniver thought about it repeatedly”?

Answers may vary. Example: The repetition mimics Miniver’s actions, allowing the reader
to truly feel the passing and wasting of time as Miniver dwells on his state.

4. What are the possible allusions in Miniver Cheevy’s name?

Answers may vary. Example: Miniver could be a reference to Minerva, the Roman goddess
of wisdom (the Greek Athens). Cheevy might be a pun on achieve. These combined could
indicate that the subject of the poem is intelligent, but does not actually do much but think
and dream.

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