Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism Summary and Analysis

An Essay on Criticism: Point Wise Summary

Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744)

1. Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the early 18th century.

2. He was a prominent figure of the Enlightenment era and an exponent of Augustan literature.

3. Best known for his satirical and discursive poetry including:

i) The Rape of the Lock (1712)

ii) The Dunciad (1728)

iii) An Essay on Criticism (1711).

4. He was also renowned for his translations of Homer.

An Essay on Criticism

Composition and Publication

1. First Drafts: Written in Abberley in 1707.

2. First Published: May 1711.

Form and Style

1. Form: Heroic couplets (pairs of adjacent rhyming lines of iambic pentameter).

2. Mode: Horatian satire.

3. Type: Verse essay. Influenced by Horace’s Ars Poetica and Lucretius’ De rerum natura.

4. Structure: Divided into Three Parts.

Themes and Content

1. Main Focus / Pope’s Purpose: Pope faced criticism throughout his career regarding his work, background, religion, and physical appearance.The poem addresses common mistakes critics make and offers advice on how to intelligently support the literary process.

Famous Quotations

1. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” (Line 525)

2. “A little learning is a dang’rous thing”. (Line 215)

3. “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” (Line 625)

Response of Critics

John Dennis famously launched a fierce attack on “An Essay on Criticism,” where he is mockingly mentioned. As a result, Pope also included him in his later satire, “The Dunciad.”

Discussion

Part 1: This section is an advice to the critics.

• Critics and writers should know the ancient rules for poetry from Greece and Rome.
• These rules are based on natural laws: balance, symmetry, and beauty without ornamentation.
• Emphasis on the importance of “First follow NATURE,” which requires good judgment and wit.
• Writers should adhere to rules, but critics should recognize the need for new approaches for evolving truths.
• Exceptions to rules are acceptable for particularly intelligent, witty, and accomplished authors.

Part 2: This section is about the mistakes done by the critics.

• Lists common mistakes critics make:
  • Critics often err by considering only parts of a work, not the whole.
  • Focusing solely on rules, ignoring content.
  • Judging based on metaphor, imagery, style, or other less relevant qualities.
  • Praising works just because they are new, extreme, foreign, or support certain viewpoints.
  • Lack of appreciation for the overall message or theme.
  • Focusing on minor faults rather than the work’s merits.
  • Ignoring the author’s intention and context.

Part 3: This section defines an Ideal Critic.

• Presents a positive and encouraging perspective.
• Explores qualities that make a great critic:
  • Integrity / the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one refuses to change
  • Humility / lack of pride
  • Courage.
• Best critics are balanced and reflective, carefully considering their words, aware of their impact on authors’ careers.
• Ends with a tribute to ancient Greek and Roman writers, and English writers who emulate the ancients.
• Ideal Critic’s Role:
• Support the literary process.
• Encourage writers through constructive feedback.
• Preserve the integrity of literary criticism.

An Essay on Criticism: Summary & Analysis

Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism is a poetic exploration of the qualities of writers and critics, both in his time and in an ideal world. This satirical work responds to the relentless critiques Pope faced throughout his career. Famous for his epigrams (clever, morally instructive sayings) Pope addresses the common mistakes critics make. These epigrams, influenced by classical Greek and Roman texts, are still widely quoted today. Pope’s work draws on a broad range of influences, including ancient and contemporary texts about poetry and criticism. An Essay on Criticism is filled with well-known epigrams based on the works of classical authors. Written in heroic couplets, Pope uses this traditional format to tackle topics not typically addressed in poetry. His work can be seen as a persuasive essay in verse.

Pope’s poem reflects the conventions of his time, such as using contractions for words ending in “ed” and capitalizing important ideas without strict grammatical rules. This marks his personal style. He outlines crucial guidelines for writers, advising them to “first follow NATURE”—a source of truth, order, and symmetry. He believes the best writing adheres to timeless rules discovered by ancient Greeks and Romans. Modern English writers, according to Pope, should study these classical masters and apply these lessons to their work. However, great writers can break these rules to convey modern ideas and the complexities of human life.

In An Essay on Criticism, Pope promotes for a balanced use of language to convey meaning and express ideas eloquently. He highlights the importance of rhyme and meter and praises the voices in classic Greek and Roman texts. He stresses the need for writers to stay true to their expressive voices while generally adhering to established poetic rules. Pope directs more advice to critics than writers. Critics significantly influence public access to and perceptions of literary works. Pope’s satirical writing was acclaimed by many readers but harshly criticized by some. He warns critics of the dangers of superficial knowledge: “A little learning is a dang’rous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.” This epigram references an ancient Roman fountain symbolizing the Muses. It suggests that critics lacking deep understanding miss the true beauty and meaning of poetry.

Pope discusses several issues with critics. He notes their tendency to focus on trivial aspects of poetry and emphasizing their greatest flaw: pride. He encourages humility, advising critics to appreciate the whole work rather than fixating on parts: “Most critics, fond of some subservient art, / Still make the whole depend upon a part.” He warns against prejudices based on an author’s background. It refers his own experiences as a Catholic and his challenges due to limited formal education and physical disabilities. Pope advises critics to avoid overvaluing new or extreme works and to be generous: “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” Through his epigrams and poetic form, he offers timeless advice on the art of criticism and the craft of writing.