Charles Carville's Eyes
Charles Carville appears deeply melancholy because his eyes are permanently sad and blank, showing neither joy, passion, nor any glimpse of inner life. Yet those who know him recognize that his glad, expressive mouth softens and redeems this impression. He speaks little, and much of what he says goes unheard, leaving others unaware of his whims and theories while he lives. Only after his death do people understand him, as his formerly silent eyes seem to communicate all that he had not been heard to say.
By Edwin Arlington Robinson · First published 1916 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Sonnet, Psychological Poetry · 148 words
First lines
A MELANCHOLY face Charles Carville had, / But not so melancholy as it seemed, / When once you knew him, for his mouth redeemed
His insufficient eyes, forever sad:
In them there was no life-glimpse, good or bad,
Nor joy nor passion in them ever gleamed; / His mouth was all of him that ever beamed, / His eyes were sorry, but his mouth was glad.
What this Textopian page supports
Charles Carville's Eyes is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edwin Arlington Robinson
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Sonnet, Psychological Poetry, Character Portrait, Elegiac Poetry
- Length: 148 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Charles Carville's Eyes by Edwin Arlington Robinson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is a compact fourteen-line poetic meditation focused on a single figure, using musical language, imagery, and concentrated emotional expression.
- Sonnet — It follows the structural conventions of a fourteen-line sonnet, with a reflective turn from Carville's outward appearance to the posthumous understanding of his inner life.
- Psychological Poetry — The poem examines the contrast between Charles Carville's sad-looking eyes, expressive mouth, reserve, hidden theories, and inaccessible interior character.
- Character Portrait — Its central purpose is to portray an individual through precise physical details, observed behavior, and the speaker's gradual recognition of his complexity.
Tags
poetry · narrative poem · dramatic monologue · psychological portrait · New England · small-town life · loneliness · alienation · human suffering · inner conflict · melancholy · social observation