Alexander Pope was an 18th century English poet best known for his satirical verse and translation of Homer's works. Born in 1688 to a Catholic family, Pope suffered from tuberculosis from a young age which stunted his growth and limited his formal education, though he was a prolific self-learner. His most famous works include Essay on Criticism, The Rape of the Lock, and translations of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, all influenced by classical Greek and Roman authors. Pope made immense contributions to English literature through his Neoclassical poetry and criticism.

1. Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
Introduction:
 Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May
1744) was an 18th-century English poet.
 He is best known for his satirical verse,
including Essay on Criticism, The Rape of
the Lock and for his translation of Homer.
 He is the second-most frequently quoted
writer in The Oxford Dictionary of
Quotations after Shakespeare
Prepared by: Murk

2. Life:
 A translator, wit, satirist & English poet of 18th
century Neo Classical age.
 Pope was born in a Catholic family &
Catholics were subject to law, couldn’t rise in
society.
 Pope was taught to read by his aunt and went
two catholic schools in 1698-1699
 Early Health Problems: From the age of 12,
he suffered from Pott's disease (a form
of tuberculosis that affects the spine).
 He grew to a height of only 4.6ft

3.  Pope was already removed from society because he
was Catholic; his poor health only alienated him
further
 Due to his disease pope’s formal education ended and
from then on he educated himself by reading the classical
work of writers such as Homer & Virgil etc
 got so fascinated/inspired that almost all of his works are
influenced by Homer & Virgil & show love for classical
text
 He was highly intellectual. & Considered as the greatest
poet of the classical period. He is ‘prince of classicism’

4. Major works of Pope
1709: Pastorals (first work)
1711: An Essay on Criticism
1712: The Rape of the Lock
1713: Windsor Forest
1715-1720: Translation of the Iliad
1723–1725: The Works of Shakespear, in Six Volumes
1725–1726: Translation of the Odyssey
1733–1734: Essay on Man

5. Essay on Criticism (1709)
 An Essay on Criticism was written in 1709 & published
anonymously on 15 may 1711 Inspired by ancient poets
& philosophers such as Aristotle.
 It is the most quoted poem in English language
 Written in heroic couplet, a discussion of what a good
critic should do
 Pope began writing the poem early in his career, which
took about three years to finish it, at the age of 23
 It is Poetry & Criticism, which is broken into three parts

6.  First part: opens by describing the way literary critics can actually cause
harm.
 In second part: pope lists the mistakes that critics make.
 In third part: Pope finally offer positive prescription, after having laid
out what’s wrong with criticism in part I & II.

7. Analysis of
An Essay on Criticism
 “An Essay on Criticism” is more to the critics than to
poets and artists. Pope believes that critics must know
literary tradition in order to develop taste and make
critical judgments. His message throughout the work is
that art should imitate nature, and the critics must have an
understanding of both classical works and the link
between nature & art. These understandings are crucial,
he claims, to ensuring that critics approach their work
with fairness and can recognize literary talent.

8.  Murk Razzaque