Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 112 views

    1 - Pope - An Essay On Criticism

    Uploaded by

    Sarha Fiorenza
    1) Alexander Pope was a famous 18th century English poet known for his use of rhyme and wit. He was born in London to a Catholic family at a time of anti-Catholic sentiment. 2) Pope's most famous work is an Essay on Criticism, published in 1711 when he was 22. In it, he outlines rules for writers and critics based on classical models and advocates for following nature rather than excess. 3) Pope argues that nature, represented by reason and order, should be the standard for all art and that writers should allow their imagination to be guided by reason rather than running freely. This establishes balance, as nature does not make mistakes.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    1 - Pope - An Essay On Criticism

    Uploaded by

    Sarha Fiorenza
    112 views2 pages
    1) Alexander Pope was a famous 18th century English poet known for his use of rhyme and wit. He was born in London to a Catholic family at a time of anti-Catholic sentiment. 2) Pope's most famous work is an Essay on Criticism, published in 1711 when he was 22. In it, he outlines rules for writers and critics based on classical models and advocates for following nature rather than excess. 3) Pope argues that nature, represented by reason and order, should be the standard for all art and that writers should allow their imagination to be guided by reason rather than running freely. This establishes balance, as nature does not make mistakes.

    Original Title

    1 - Pope - An Essay on Criticism

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    1) Alexander Pope was a famous 18th century English poet known for his use of rhyme and wit. He was born in London to a Catholic family at a time of anti-Catholic sentiment. 2) Pope's most famous work is an Essay on Criticism, published in 1711 when he was 22. In it, he outlines rules for writers and critics based on classical models and advocates for following nature rather than excess. 3) Pope argues that nature, represented by reason and order, should be the standard for all art and that writers should allow their imagination to be guided by reason rather than running freely. This establishes balance, as nature does not make mistakes.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    112 views2 pages

    1 - Pope - An Essay On Criticism

    Uploaded by

    Sarha Fiorenza
    1) Alexander Pope was a famous 18th century English poet known for his use of rhyme and wit. He was born in London to a Catholic family at a time of anti-Catholic sentiment. 2) Pope's most famous work is an Essay on Criticism, published in 1711 when he was 22. In it, he outlines rules for writers and critics based on classical models and advocates for following nature rather than excess. 3) Pope argues that nature, represented by reason and order, should be the standard for all art and that writers should allow their imagination to be guided by reason rather than running freely. This establishes balance, as nature does not make mistakes.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1700 - 1760)

    NATURE, IMAGINATION AND EGOTISM


    ALEXANDER POPE
    (1688 - 1744)
    1. BIOGRAPHY
    Pope is considered as the greatest poet of the Classical period. Pope born in London, in a Roman
    Catholic’s family, this affected not only his verse and critical principles but also his life. In the year
    of his birth occurred the so-called “Glorious Revolution”: England’s Catholic monarch James II
    was displaced by the Protestant King William III of Orange, and the prevailing anti-Catholic laws
    was annulated. This affected many aspects of Pope’s life: he could not obtain a university
    education, hold public or political office, or even reside in London. Pope’s family, in fact, moved to
    a small farm occupied by other Catholic families. Also, Pope’s personal life was afflicted by
    disease: he was a hunchback, only four and a half feet tall, and suffered from tuberculosis. He was
    in constant need of his maid to dress and care for him. Speaking of himself he will say "this long
    illness, my life". However, he privately taught through tutors: he studied the great Latin and Greek
    works, as well as modern languages, creating an education on the literary piano and moved in an
    elite circle of London writers. As a boy, Pope was a keen reader and very talented. His first
    publication, The Pastorals, included works written while he was very young. The mock epic “The
    Rape of the Lock” made Pope known to a general audience. Here, he critics the narrow-
    mindedness and frivolity of the English aristocracy.

    AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM (1711)


    An Essay on Criticism, is a didactic poem in heroic couplets by Alexander Pope, first published
    anonymously in 1711 when the author was 22 years old. It’s an essay in which he exposes the
    neoclassical literary theory. It is divided into three parts: thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.
    Despite the title, the poem is not a critical analysis but a series of Pope's advice on literature.
    It is a sort of Enlightenment Manifesto. Both Poets and critics are expected to follow Nature
    because Nature does not make any mistakes. Here, Pope gives an idea to his contemporaries of
    how to write and how to judge a piece of art, and not just art but a piece of literature.
    Pope feels that writers should emulate ancient works and only bend the rules once they establish
    their skills as writers. According to Pope both critics and writers must be humble before the rules
    created and followed by the ancients. Critics should not harshly judge works of literature without
    knowledge of these rules and acceptance of their importance.

    1) NATURE:
    The first of the three sections of the poem open with the argument that good taste comes from
    Nature and that critics should imitate the ancient rules established by classical writers. Moreover,
    he declines the Baroque pomposity in favour of natural, essential works. We have to underline that
    we are in 1711 -> Augustan Age and the beginning of Enlightenment movement. The
    Enlightenment is against the Baroque movement (symbol of excess), while Nature does not fail, it
    is right, and it is the mirror of Reason. First follow Nature’ was Pope’s battle cry. The artist should
    follow Nature and only make simple additions. Pope is against excess of wit and in favour of clear
    thoughts expressed in simple and easy language. Any art which fails to reflect nature is not worth
    to call an art at all. This makes him a classic because neoclassical art tends towards the whole, it
    does not matter the intensity of the particular but the harmony of the whole.
    Nature is considered as superior entity to which everyone must obey >THEISM. The term “natural
    religion” is sometimes taken to refer to a pantheistic doctrine according to which nature itself is
    divine. The poet focuses on the characteristics of nature (centre of Enlightenment):

    CLEAR – UNCHANGED – UNIVERSAL LIGHT – SYMBOL ORF ORDER AND PERFECTION


    – IT PROVIDES
    1. Clear ARTISTIC MODELS TO FOLLOW - NATURE IS IDENTICAL TO HUMAN
    REASON.
     METAPHOR OF WINGED COURSER:
    It refers to the imagination, which is influenced by reason, it is not free. Inspiration and imagination
    cannot be leave very free, but they have to be kept under Reason control. The poet has to try to
    find a balance and control the fury of imagination. The horse is without guide like the imagination:
    the horse needs to be guided by the winged coursed, as the imagination has to be controlled by
    the Reason.
    In Alexander Pope the central idea is the Equilibrium. His major model was Horace, which Pope
    successfully imitated in his elegant heroic couplets. To copy the ancients is to copy Nature. ‘

    ALEXANDER POPE: AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM (1711)


    IMPERATIV FORM Part I - ll. 59-77
    First follow Nature, and your judgement frame
    By her just standard, which is still the same: Prima segui la Natura, e forma la cornice del tuo giudizio
    Unerring Nature, still divinely bright, Secondo il suo giusto modello, che è ancora lo stesso:
    L’infallibile natura, ancora divinamente luminosa,
    One clear, unchanged, and universal light,
    Una luce chiara, immutata e universale,
    Life, force, and beauty must to all impart, Vita, forza e bellezza deve impartire a tutto,
    At once the source, and end, and test of art. In una volta sola sorgente, fine e prova dell’arte.

    Art from that fund each just supply provides,


    Works without show, and without pomp presides. Arte da quel fondo ogni fornitura giusta fornisce,
    In some fair body thus the informing soul Opere senza spettacolo, e senza sfarzo presiede:
    With spirit feeds, with vigor fills the whole, In qualche bel corpo così l'anima informatrice
    Di spirito si nutre, di vigore riempie il tutto,
    Each motion guides, and every nerve sustains;
    Ogni movimento guida e ogni nervo sostiene;
    Itself unseen, but in the effects remains.
    Di per sé invisibile, ma negli effetti, rimane.

    Some, to whom Heav’n in wit has been profuse,


    Want as much more, to turn it to its use; Alcuni, ai quali il cielo è stato profuso in arguzia,
    For wit and judgment often are at strife, Vuoi tanto di più, per volgerlo al suo uso;
    Though meant each other’s aid, like man and wife. Perché l'arguzia e il giudizio sono spesso in conflitto,
    'Tis more to guide, than spur the Muse's steed; Anche se significava l'aiuto reciproco, come uomo e moglie.
    Restrain his fury, than provoke his speed; È più per guidare, che spronare il destriero della Musa;
    Trattenere il suo furore, che provocarne la velocità;
    The winged courser, like a gen’rous horse,
    Il corso alato, come un cavallo generoso,
    Shows most true mettle when you check his course. Mostra il più vero coraggio quando controlli il suo corso.

    You might also like