Final answer:
Edwin Arlington Robinson is widely recognized for his poetic portrayals of characteristic American life, particularly through his acclaimed poem "Richard Cory" which focuses on the contrasting appearances and reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edwin Arlington Robinson gained a reputation as a skilled poet who portrayed characteristic American life. His poem "Richard Cory" is particularly renowned for this. The poem encapsulates the irony of appearances versus reality in American society at the turn of the 20th century, emphasizing the unexpected loneliness and despair of a seemingly successful and enviable man. Robinson's work has earned a place in American literary history for its sharp insights into the human condition and the societal norms of his time.