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Essay on Criticism

In "Essay on criticism" Pope attempts to lay down in verse the rules of good art and good criticism.This poem is a didactic one in a heroic couplets. Throughout the poem,he deals with the features of Neo-classisim.Pope stated that bad criticism is more dangerous than bad writing.He focused on nature and on the importance of following the ancients.He also mentions that there are some exceptions to the rules of Neo-classism.

One of the most important features of Neo-classisim is "following nature".Nature is used in many senses.It means external reality which the poet must imitate.Nature also means the power that govern the universe which is based on order ,harmony,and regularity.To follow nature means to follow the rules of the ancient masters,as they were based upon nature:

Those Rules of old discovered,not devised
Are Nature still,but Nature Methodized

The ancients methodised Nature ,so they must be followed.And so, to produce a good literature,you must study and imitate the classical writers:

Be Homer's workes your study,and delight,
Read them by day,and meditate by night,
...Nature and Homer were,he found,the same:
....To copy Nature is to copy them.

Nature has defined the limits of everything without the help of man's intelligence:

Nature to all things fixed the limits fit,
And wisely curbed proud Man's wit

Pope also stated that art and knowledge are vast and man's intelligence is limited.Most people can do well in just one field.Sometimes they excell in only just one branch of that field.Man should not exceed his limits.He is not supposed to cover everything.All what he should do is just following nature,as it is an unerring and unchanging one.From nature poets derive inspiration.Thier final goal is to imitate nature to be able to judge literature.

First follow NATURE ,and your judgment frame
By her just standard,which is still the same
...At once the Source,and End ,and Test of Art.

Pope mentioned that there are exceptions to the rules :

Some beauties yet, no Precepts can declare

Though these beauties deviate from fixed rules still they are very beautiful.There are a nameless graces that should be excluded,so rules should be extended.They give you a licence and if this licence fulfil your intention it will be accepted as a rule:

Some lucky LICENCE answers to the full
the intent proposed,that licence is a rule.

In thise poem ,emphasised was laid on correctness,reason,and good sense.The artist should follow the rules correctly and any emotions must be controlled by reason.Moderation is the golden key in life and literature .Pope advised the critics to avoid extremes and to be moderate:

Avoid extremes;and shun the fault of such,
who still are pleased too little ,or too much.

By:Princess

Essay on criticism

Neo-classicism is a term applies to the literature around the 19th in England. It is also called the Restoration period. The movement is considered as a reaction against the concepts of Romanticism like imagination and feelings. The writers of this era follow the ancient authors. For them, Nature is perfect as God create it. Therefore, they try to imitate nature. Essay on criticism by Alexander pope is the best example of Neo-classical poetry. Pope defines the concept of “follow nature “as the correct limits of everything. Nature sets the rules of the universe.

Nature to all things fix'd the Limits fit,

To him, nature shapes our judgment according to fair standard. I t is the production of God. Therefore it will shape our taste.

First follow NATURE, and your Judgment frame
By her just Standard, which is still the same:
Unerring Nature, still divinely bright,

Nature is the source of inspiration and tranquility. It also supports us with peace and beauty that we need to survive and reach safely to the end.

Life, Force, and Beauty, must to all impart,
At once the Source, and End, and Test of Art

Nature is the core, the end and the model for the poet. Furthermore, there is a deep connection between nature and ancients. The ancients likes Homer, Aristotle and Virgil follow the rules of nature. They imitate it in everything.

Be Homer's Works your Study, and Delight,
Read them by Day, and meditate by Night,

According to pope, the work of the ancients is full of wisdom and delight . It is worthy to read.

Nature and Homer were, he found, the same:
To copy Nature is to copy Them.

The best way to copy nature is to follow the ancients who write according to the rules.

There are some qualities of good critic. One of them is avoiding extremes. For instant , we shouldn’t put so much music or even image in our literary work .because too much music or image is as bad as no music or image at all . The critic must find the balance to reach to his goal.

Avoid Extreams; and shun the Fault of such,
Who still are pleas'd too little, or too much.

Pope also argues that

The sound must seem as echo to the sense

This line is concerned with the atmosphere of the poem. The poets should choice their words carefully. As its must fit the subject whether it is sad or happy in order to find their way to the heart of the readers. He also advise the critic to look to the whole not to the part and search for the aim of the writer. This appears in this old saying “
Even Homer himself sometimes nods”. And there is no perfect work

To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine.

The Whole at once is Bold, and Regular.

Besides ,

A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing;
There shallow Draughts intoxicate the Brain,

Writers should extend their learning to the far possible limit because mind has no limit.
Learning is like the cloud can not be reached.

The whole poem is written in heroic couplets. The style is elevated and diction is noble.
Also, the poem is full of figure of speech. As in

As on the land while here the ocean gains
In other parts it leaves wide sandy plains

And in

Where beams of warm imagination played

And in

Like kings we lose the conquests gain d before


By: elfchild