‘Kanthapura' as a Gandhian Epic

‘Kanthapura' as a Gandhian Epic'

There were three Indian modern writer of classic. Their contribution in classic is very significant. They are:-

(1)        Raja Rao        

(2)        R. K. Narayan

(3)        Mulk Raj Anand

Raja Rao

Raja Rao belongs to a very old south Indian family of Brahmin. He was born in 1909 in the village of Hussana, in Mysore. His father was a professor of commerce in Hyderabad. He has completed his matriculated from Hyderabad, and then he went over to Aligarh for higher Education. He took his B.A. Degree from Nizam College Hyderabad. He got scholarship from Hyderabad University and then he went to France to continue his study of French Literature there.

·         Creative works of Raja  Rao

(1)        Kanthapura                                                     (1938)

(2)        Cow of the Barricades and other Stories       

(3)        The Serpent and the rope                                (1960)

(4)        The cat and Shakespeare                                 (1965)

(5)        Comrade Kirillow                                           (1976)

(6)        The policeman and the Rose                           (1978)

(7)        The Chess master and his moves                    (1988)

(8)        On the Ganga Ghat                                         (1989)

·         Epic

Ø  “An epic is a long narrative poem and a great and serious subject related in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasidivine figure on whose action depend the fate of tribe a nation or the human race.”

- M.H. Abram

Ø  An epic is the greatest and most sublime form of poetry. The epic is a poem, divided into several books, celebration the life, heroic deeds and achievement of a national hero, whether historical or legendry.

‘KANTHAPURA’ - novel - Gandhian epic

                       

                        Kanthapura is Rao’s first major Indian novel in English. It is published in 1938. The novel deals with civil disobedience movement. The title of the novel is adopted by village Kanthapura. The title is apt and suitable for the novel is about a south Indian village named ‘KANTHAPURA’. The story is narrated in flashback by ‘Achakka’.

‘KANTHAPURA’ - Village

                        Kanthapura does not exist but it is a imagination of Raja Rao’s mind. Kanthapura village is situated on the Western Ghats in the Valley of Himmavathi River. There it lies ‘curled up like a child on its mother’s lap’. This single image makes the village spirit into life. The reader is able to visualize it as it as lies, sheltered and secluded like a child in its mother’s lap.

Village’s Cotemporary Situation

(I)                Social Background

(II)       Religion Background

(III)     Political Background

(I)        Social Background:-

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their Dirty feet”.

- Gandhiji….

            The novel has a dormant pattern to the treatment of castes and communities Kanthapura, a tiny village representative of any other village in south Indian. There were four divisions in caste….

(1)   Brahmin   

(2) Parihar      

(3) Potter

(4) Weaver

There were conflict between castisim and other issues, but finally all get together and helped each other for the struggle for independence.

(II)       Religion Background:-

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians, and your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

- Gandhiji…

            The village has a people who have strong rigid and orthodox background of religious. The Brahmin is upper cast of society.

            In the Kanthapura people are ignorant, poor and superstitious, but they are also deeply religious. They were faith in Goodness ‘Kenchamma’. She is in the centre of the village. Marriage, sickness, death, ploughing, harvesting, arrest, release all are watched by Kenchamma. There may be small pox or influence around but you make vow to the Goodness, the next morning, you walked and you find the fever has left you. There is a also temple of Kanthapurishwari.  

Kenchamma, Kenchamma,

Goddess benign, and bounteous,

Mother of earth, blood off life,

Harvest – queen – rain, crowned,

Kenchamma, Kenchamma,

Goddess benign and bounteous…..

 (III)    Political Background:-

Lift the flag high,

            O. Lift the flag high,

            Brothers, Sisters, Friends and Mother,

            This is the flag of the revolution……

- Gandhiji…

In ‘Kanthapura’ – novel political ideas also be found, Earlier, British ruled over India and then slowly and steadily education got reformation and Gandhian ideas started to apply by Moorthy.

First they ignore you,

Then they ridicule you,

Then they fight you, and

            Then you win……

- Gandhiji…

            Kanthapura is one the earliest example of Gandhian Novel. Raja Rao’s novel is the most powerful of Indo – Anglian novel, portraying the impact of the Gandhian Movement on the Indian people. Kanthapura is long narrative novel telling of heroic acts, the birth and death of a hero. So it is an Epic. Kanthapura is telling of impact that Gandhi had on the nation. He concerted the whole nation into an army of Freedom fighters. Gandhiji was no less than the hero of an epic, the freedom struggle of India was an epic struggle. Thousands of people sacrifice their lives. It was remaining in the background through the novel; Gandhi is no doubt the hero of movement on a small village Kanthapura. Here, in the Kanthapura Moorthy is the Gandhi and Hero of the village.

            The main character of the novel is Moorthy. He is Brahmin boy who discovered a half buried ‘Ligna’ from the village and installed it. It is Moorthy who organize Gandhi work in the village, he is indeed life and spirit behind the movement in Kanthapura just as a Gandhi was the life and spirit of freedom struggle in India, but very soon the people of Kanthapura as a whole are actively involved and the novel becomes an account of their suffering and their heroic sacrifice. The people of Kanthapura has been enthused with spirit of Gandhiji and they march ahead heroically despite all the suffering and the hardship they have undergo.

Ø  “Moorthy is not man of modern novel. He is a ‘very Prince’, ‘our Rama’ and ‘small mountain’…..

Like a thousand of young men all over the country Moorthy gave up his studies and joined freedom movement. He dedicated his life to the country after he followed the principal of Gandhiji. He burnet his foreign clothes and started using Khadi. He did not marry and devoted his life totally to the struggle for independence. He sacrifices his personal life and happiness for the sake of freedom fighters in the village Kanthapura.

Moorthy as a Gandhiji

Moorthy also left his study and hope of a glorious future for the sake of country; he devoted his life to the struggle of Independence after he had a vision of Gandhiji and worked of other social evils. Moorthy worked for upliftment of Parihas as Gandhji also helped Harijan.

The Gandhian movement was brought to Kanthapura by Moorthy and to the boy of village. He went to from door to door to tell the people about Gandhi and his views and principle. He distributed Charkhas among the people of Kanthapura at free of cost. He had contact with the city congress and Charkhas were given to him by free of cost for the distributing among the villagers in the beginning he found it difficult to convince the villagers to take Charkha and started spinning, do the on a regular basis, ultimately he was able to convince most of them that it was essential not only for them but also for the achieving political freedom, with time more and more people joined congress and now people of Kanthapura regarded Moorthy as The Gandhi of Kanthapura.

"G"

Truth Peace Non Violence Satyagraha

[‘G’ Stands for the Gandhian Ideas]

Ø  “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”

- Gandhiji…

This all are Gandhian ideas which Gandhiji has used in his life and used into freedom fighting. Though Gandhiji is not present in the whole novel but only Gandhian ideas remain and can be found which were adopted by Moorthy. These ideas helped the people of Kanthapura to get freedom from Britishers.

Moorthy sticks to above Gandhian Ideas and reforms the position of village including Social, Religious, Political background.

            Moorthy did not stop working for the upliftment of pariahs though swami has said to him that he would be excommunicated. But Moorthy did not take it seriously like Gandhi he also kept a fast of three days because he felt that he had   not been able to live up ideas of the Mahatma. He held himself responsible for the skeffington coffee estate. After the fast he started the ‘Don’t touch the Government Campaign’ unless his leadership the people of Kanthapura picked non – violence like a true followers of Gandhiji. He was arrested by police many times and during his trial, he behaved like a true Gandhian.

            There is also other character like Advocate Shankar, Rangamma and Ratna who were also followers of Gandhian ideology.

Ø  Advocate Shankar:-

Shankar is a great follower of Gandhian ideas. He is honest and upright man. He did not take any false cases a d if he knew his client had tried lie to him and was guilty, he gave up case immediately. He lived simple life and refused to go to the marriage or any party where people were not dressed in Khadi. The character of Shankar is reflection of Gandhiji.

Ø  Rangamma:-

She actively participated in the work of congress. Her house becomes the office of congress in the Kanthapura. The freedom fighter used to assemble at her house to discuss their plan of action.

Ø  Ratna:-

Ratna was also followers of Gandhian ideas. She was widow and only 15 years old. She becomes the leader of the freedom fighters in the Kanthapura in absence of Moorthy.

So, above characters and Moorthy also represent Gandhian ideas and follows them, though Gandhi is not present throughout whole novel, but his ideas are presented in characters. There were also many other people in Kanthapura like, Rachna, Range, Govda etc…..who also followers of Gandhiji.

-          Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

- Gandhiji…

By this time the Satyanarayan Puja was organized and most of people of Kanthapura had joined the Gandhian movement. So, throughout novel we can see the influence of Gandhiji on the character s of Kanthapura village. Throughout the novel Moorthy acted as a local Gandhiji and followed Gandhian Philosophy were we can compare Moorthy and Gandhiji.

           

            The novel has a Gandhian ideology and freedom struggle. The story of Satyagrahi’s moved forward steadily till it reached to its climax. It was a story of people of a small village who realized that they never new to rise and fight for freedom of their motherland.  They made effort in their direction and they fail. They left Kanthapura and settled in Kashipura as a result of the final clash between freedom fighters and the solider. Many people died and many people injured. Then whole village was set on fire and destroyed. Many people arrested. The remaining people left the village and never came back.

-          “The weak can never forgive,

Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

- Gandhiji…

‘Gandhiji’ never appears on the scene and plot of novel but his presence was felt all the time by Gandhian Ideas, Philosophy through the novel.

Aristotle's definition of Tragedy , six parts of Tragedy and Catharsis

Aristotle's definition of Tragedy

Aristotle was a philosopher. He was philosopher of ancient Greece. He was highly philosophical idea and views. He asks and tried to show reality of the world. The search for ideal forms laid Aristotle to explore many subject. His analysis of the ideal form of tragic play became a guideline for later playwrights in western civilization. Many we western writer used to follow ideals of Aristotle’s model. Shakespeare also tried to follow rules of Aristotle’s.

Drama was not invented by Aristotle. In fact, he used examples from the works of famous Greek playwright such as Sophocles to illustrate his main ideas. The Greek believed that tragedy was the high form of drama and Aristotle’s ideas about tragedy were based on his belief.

Tragedy: -

- An event in life that evokes feelings of sorrow of grief.

- A disastrous circumstance or event.

“A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself;  in appropriate and pleasurable language…in dramatic rather than the narrative form; with incident arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of this emotion.

                                                                                                -  By Aristotle

Let’s clarify the definition of the Aristotle’s……

* “The imitation of n action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself”

            This lines shows that a good tragedy should have one issue that is very serious. You can’t have a tragedy about something trivial breaking a fingernail. Magnitude deals with the importance. The issue has to be serious and very important. So tragedies deal with sorrow or someone’s death. Complete in itself means that play must stick to the one issue; otherwise, the audience will get lost in the plot.

* “In appropriate and pleasurable language”

            In ancient time, chorus was used to narrate story of some parts of play, their role was to comment on the action of the play. Sometimes they sing a song. Language which is used by chorus should be rhyming and pleasurable to the audience. So the language should be appropriate and pleasurable.

* “In dramatic rather than the narrative form”

The language which is used by chorus should be dramatic language, because narrative form becomes complicated and suitable form. So, chorus has to use dramatic form rather than narrative form. To narrate a story is simply to tell the story, like weekend. In a play, the story must be dramatized or acted out.

* “With incident arousing pity and fear”

The ancient of play would be having some element of sorrow. The audience has to sympathy with main character. In a tragedy, the events or episodes in the play should lead the audience to feel very sorry for the main character - The tragic hero. The audience should also feel afraid for the hero as he moves toward destructive end.

* “Wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of this emotion”

Catharsis: -  

                 A purifying of the emotion s that is brought about in the audience of               

Tragic drama through the evocation of intense fear and pity

Means that during and after watching play audience has to feel catharsis, the audience has to successfully felt pity and fear. As the play moves along, the event should build up the emotion of pity and fear. A catharsis is a purging, or cleansing of emotion - a release of tension, in a tragedy. This is often a moment of revelation when the tragic hero “falls flat on his face” and the audience can finally “explode”.

So, as per above clarification, we can analyze the definition of Tragedy.

Aristotle’s Element of Tragedy

·         Element of Tragedy (six parts of Tragedy)

(1)        Plot:-

(2)        Character:-

(3)        Thought:-

(4)        Diction:-

(5)        Melody:-

(6)        Spectacle:-

Let’s discuss all element of tragedy one by one. And discuss importance and role of them into tragedy.

                     

(1) Plot:-

Plot is soul of tragedy. It was the most important of six elements. The plot must be complete having unity of action. Aristotle said that plot must be structurally self contained, with the incident bound together by internal necessity, each action leading inevitably to the next with no outside intervention. No deu ex machine. There must be good chain of unity of action.

(i)                 Time

(ii)        Place

(ii)               Action

The episode or acts succeed one another without probable and necessary sequence. The only thing that ties together the events in such a plot is the fact that they happen to the same person. Playwrights should make all scenes which depend on past accident. They have to exclude coincidence from their plot. Plot may be either simple or complex, although complex is better.

(2) Character:-

Character is another important element of tragedy. Character may be mouthpiece of writer. Every character may have their own contribution to develop plot and play, their quality or nature that is revealed in the plot. The purpose of each character must be clear to the audience.

-           Character should have following qualities.

 “Good or fine”

 This quality shows morality of character. That whatever protagonist is, it should have moral values. The character must be good and fine someway.

“True to Type (Fitness of Character)”

 This quality tells that character should be true type. That his body and physique would be suitable as per requirement of character.

e.g. – Valor is appropriate for a warrior bit nit for woman.

“True to Life (Realistic)”

According to this quality character should be realistic. They have to avoid fancy matter in character. The character ha to o live in real life and near surroundings and it must have reality.

“Consistency (True to Himself)”

Each character must act consistently throughout the play. In other words, nothing should be one or said that could be seen as ‘acting out of character’.

(3) Thought

It is also called ass theme of play. Theme of play is considered as thought. There is also useful theme in every play. Thought is the power of saying whatever can be said and should be said at each moment of the plot. Do the lines spoken by actors make sense? Are they saying what should be said at each particular moment in the play?

(4) Diction:-

It is fourth and important elements of tragedy.

Diction means Composition of dialogue - Choice of word.

The word contains meaning the clarity with which somebody pronounce words of the meaning in the words which are proper and appropriate to the plot, character, and end of the tragedy. In this category artist discusses the stylistic elements of tragedy; is particularly interested in metaphors; but the greatest thing by far is to have a comment of metaphor….It is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an eye for resembles.

- Application to Oedipus the King.

(5) The Spectacles (Opsis):-

(6) Melody (Melos):-

Both elements are accessories. The ancient Greek writer used melody songs sometimes. They used musical accompaniment. Aristotle said that the music has to blend in the play appropriately. Writer should include the musically expressive quality of something in the pay., especially like Poetry….

-          Spectacles is last; for it is least connected with literature; “the production of spectacular effects depends machinist than on that of poet.

-          It is somebody or something that attracts attention by being unpleasant or ridicules.

-          Aristotle recognizes the emotional attraction of spectacle, he argues that superior poet rely on the inner structure of the play rather than spectacles to arouse pity and fear; those who rely heavily on spectacle “crate a sense, not of the terrible, but only monstrous.

*catharsis*

Catharsis is a function of literature. It is a process to viewer or reader.

-          The aesthetic pleasure one gests from contemplating the pity and fear that are aroused through an intricately constructed works of art.

-          According to Aristotle, a purifying of the emotion that is brought about in the audience of a tragic drama through the evocation of intense fear and pity.  Catharsis as moderating or Tempe fulfillment or satisfaction.

The meaning of Catharsis

“First there has been age-long controversy about Aristotle’s meaning, though it has almost always been accepted that whatever he meant was profoundly right. Many, for example, have translated catharsis as ‘purification’, ‘correction refinement’, ‘reingung’ or like. It has been suggested that our pity and fear are ‘purified ‘in the theatre by becoming disinterested. It is  bad to be selfish sentimental, timid and querulous; but it is good to pity Othello or to fear for Hamlet. Our selfish emotion has been sublimated. All this is most edifying; but it does not appear to be what Aristotle intended.”

§  By F. L. Lucas

-          There is strong evidence that catharsis is not ‘purification’ but ‘purgation’. Purgation has become radically misleading to modern minds. Inevitably we think of purgatives and complete evacuation of water products; and then outraged critics ask why our emotions should be so ill treated.

-        

  But catharsis means purgation, not in the modern, but in the older, wilder English sense which includes the partial removal of excess ‘humor’. To translate catharsis as purgation is misleading meaning. The theory of humor is outdated in the medical science. “Purgation” has assumed different meaning. It is no longer what Aristotle has in mind.

The passions to be moderated are these of pity and fears to be moderated are again, of specific kind. There can never be an excess in the pity that results into a useful action. But there can be too much pity as an helpless feeling, and there can be also too much of self pity which is not a praise worthy virtue. The catharsis or moderation of such pity out to be achieved in the theater otherwise when possible, for such moderation keeps the mind in a healthy state of balance.  

“There are Besides fear and pity the allied impulses which is also are to be moderated Grief, Weakness, Contemplate, Blame these I take to be the sort of thing that Aristotle meant by feelings of that sort. “

§  By F. L. Lucas

As per above discussion we can say that the element of Tragedy is useful to develop plot. It gives contribution to raise action off drama. 

Alexander Pope and his contribution in Literature

Alexander Pope and his contribution in Literature

Introduction of Ages

Every literature and language has their own importance and contribution in the life of people. Here, we are going to discuss English literature.

There are many ages in the English literature. Many types of steps make the difference between the periods of age. The ages has their own importance to develop English literature. The ages are given below: -

<1>      The age of Chaucer                                      (1350 - 1400)

<2>      Age of Elizabethan                                        (1550 - 1620)

<3>      The Puritan Age                                            (1620 - 1660)

<4>      Period of Restoration                                    (1660 - 1700)

<5>      The Neo - Classic Age, Augustan Age            (1700 - 1800)

<6>      The Romantic Age                                        (1800 - 1850) 

<7>      The Victorian Age                                         (1850 – 1900)

<8>      The Modern Age                                           (1900……)

                                               

-          According to William J. Long

The neo classical age is also known as a “Age of Queen Anne.”

The Neo – Classic Age       (1700 to 1800)

The classic age is known by other name like “Augustan Age”, “Age of Queen Anne”, and “Age of Pope”. This age is very significant and important in to the development of literature.

The revolution of 1688 which banished the last of Stuart king and called William of Orange to the throne. Thereafter the Englishman spent his tremendous energy, which his forbears had largely spent in fighting for freedom, in endless political discussion and in efforts to improve his government in order to bring about reforms, votes were now necessary; and to get votes the people of England must  be approached with ideas, facets, arguments, information.

-          William J. Long

So, during this time many of news paper, books, journal become more popular and during this time they developed - First news paper ‘THE DAILY COURANT’ published on 1702 in London.

There also other literary works were famous.

(1)        Prose

(2)        Satire

(3)        Poetry

During this period, there were many writers with wit and imagination, they produced gems of literature. Here, some of them writer is:-

(1)        Jonathan Swift            (1667 - 1745)

(2)        Joseph Addison          (1672 - 1719)

(3)        Sir Richardson Steel   (1672 - 1729)

(4)        Daniel Defoe               (1659 - 1731)

(5)        Alexander pope           (1688 - 1744)

These are the major poet and writer during the period. There were also some other writer like Mathew prior, John Gay, Edward young, Sir Philip, Samuel Garth, Lady Winchilesed, Ambrose Philip, Thomas Parnell, Allan Ramsay. They also helped significant role to help literary work.

Here we have to discuss and contribution of Alexander Pope. So, Let’s take detail and Contribution of Alexander Pope.

Alexander Pope:-

Alexander Pope was an 18^th century English poet. He is known for his work like satire and translation of Homer.

Life and Career:-

Alexander pope born on 21^st – May 1688 in London. His father was linen merchant of plough court. His parents were both catholic. Pope’s education was affected by the recently enacted Test Acts, which upheld the status of the established church to England and banned catholic from teaching, attending a university, voting or holding public office on pain of perpetual imprisonment. Pope was taught to ready by his aunt and went to Twyford school in about 1698/99. He then went to two catholic schools in London.

In 1700, his family moved to a small estate at popes wood in Benfield, Berkshire, close to the royal Windsor forest. This was due to strong anti – catholic sentiment and a statue preventing catholic form living within 10 miles of either London or Westminster. Pope’s former education ended at this time, and from then on he mostly educated himself by reading the works of classic writers such as satirists. Pope also studied many languages and read works by English, French, Italian and Greek poet.

As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame, I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came…..

From the age of 12 years, he suffered numerous health problems, such as pott’s disease, which deformed his body and stunted his growth leaving with several hunchback. He grew to a height of 4 ft 6 in. (1.37 m.) tall. Pope was already removed from society because he was catholic; his poor health only alienated him further. Although he never married, he has many female friends to whom he wrote letters. Allegedly, his lifelong friend, Martha Blount was his ever….

Pope lived in his parents’ house in Mawson Row, Chiswick, between 1716 and 1719; the red brick building is now the Mawson Arms, commemorating him with a blue plaque.

The translation of Homer becomes very famous. He made lots of money by translating it. Then he moves to a villa at Twikenham in 1719. There he created his new famous grotto and garden. Pope decorates the gotto with alabaster; marbles, and orange such as mundic and crystals. He also used Cornish diamonds, stalactites, spars, snakestones and sponge stones. Here and there in the gotto he placed mirrors, expensive embellishment for the time. A camera obscure was installed to delight his visitors, of whom there were many. The serendipitous discovery of a spring during the subterranean retreated excavation enabled it to be filled with the relaxing sound of trickling water, which would quietly echo around the chambers. Pope was said to have remarked that: “Were it to have nymphs as well – it would be complete in everything”. Although the house and garden have long since been demolished, much of this gotto still survives. The independent co – ed school and is occasionally opened to the public.

Alexander pope died on 30^th May – 1744 at the age of 56 years. He died in Twickenham.

Let’s have a look on creative works of Alexander pope.

 Major works of Alexander Pope

Being a poet, Alexander Pope made endeavor to write poetry. Even at the age of 12 years he wrote one poetry named ‘Ode on Solitude’. This indicates that extensive man of poet.

(1)        Pastorals                                                          (1709)

(2)        An Essay on Criticism                                    (1711)

(3)        Messiah                                                           (1712)

(4)        The Rape of Lock                                           (1712)

(5)        Windsor Forest                                               (1713)

(6)        Translation of Iliad                                         (1715-1720)

(7)        Eloisa to Abelard                                            (1717)

(8)        Three hours after marriage                              (1717)

(9)        Elegy to the memory of an unfortunate lady  (1717)

(10)      The works of Shakespeare                              (1723-1726)

(11)      Translation of Odyssey                                   (1725-1726)

(12)      The Dunciad                                                   (1728)

(13)      Essay on man                                                  (1733)

(14)      The prologue to the satires                              (1735)

Let’s analyze significant works of pope in brief synopsis.  

v Pastorals :-

At the age of 16 Pope has published this poem. It was published in 1709. The characters and scenery, based as they are on classical models, lack vagour and reality but the works is important as an experiment in verse technique.

                        And yet my numbers please the rural throw,

                        Rough satyrs dance, and pan applauds the song,

                        The nymphs, forsaking every cave and spirit,

Their early fruit, and milk – white turtles bring….

-          Summer – The Second Pastorals

v An Essay on Criticism :-

It was published in 1711. The exceptional quality of writing poetry can be observed in this poem. The poem professes to set forth the gospel of ‘wit’ and ‘nature’ as it applies to the literature of the age. There is no attempt at originality of thought. Pope‘s aim being merely to restate the code of ancient. The poem begins with a discussion of the standard rules that govern poetry by which a critics passes judgment. The final section of an Essay on criticism discusses the moral qualities and virtues inherent in the ideal critics, who Pope claims, is also the ideal man.

                        A little learning is dangerous thing!

                        And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art,

                        To err is human: to forgive divine

True wit is nature to advantages dressed….

v The rape of The Lock :-

This poem published in 1712. This poem was the most brilliant poem in Language. It is masterpiece of its kind. The poem combines with its humorous, epic treatment of the trivial themes a delicate fancy.

A fop at the court of Queen Anne, one lord Petre, snipped a lock of hair from the abundant curls of pretty maid of honor named Arabella former. The young lady resented it and the two families were plunged into a quarrel which was the talk of London. Pope being appealed to, seized the occasion to construct, not a ballad, as the cavaliers would have done, nor an epigram, as French poet love to do, but a long poem in which all the mannerism of society are pictured in minutes details and satirized with the most delicate wit.

And now, unveil’d, the toilet stands display’d,

Each silver vase in mystic order laid,

First, robed in white, the nymph intest adore,

With head uncovered, the cosmetic powers…..

v Windsor Forest :-

This poem is written by Alexander Pope, who proved himself by writing this poem in which Pope depicts his own auto biographical element as well as aspect in it. It was published in March 1713. Pope has described the country side around the house.

v Translation of Iliad :-

During 1715 to 1720, he has published the translation of Iliad. Pope translated the entire Iliad. As a translation it is faulty for pope had no sound knowledge of Greek and was often led into errors by his reference to earlier translation. He interpreted Homer in the elegant, artificial language of his own age. Not only do his words follow literary fashions but even the Homeric character loses their strength. So criticism of the scholar Bentley was most appropriate when he said: “ It is a pretty poem, Mr. Pope, but you must not call it Homer”.

The troops exulting sat in order round.

And beaming fires illumined all the ground,

As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night,

O’er heavens pure azure spreads her sacred light…..

v Three Hours after Marriage :-

This work is published in1717. It was a restoration comedy. Pope, john gay and John Arbuthnot get together and wrote play.

v The Dunciad :-

This Poem is written in 1728. The Dunciad, which appeared anonymously in 1728, and again in 1742 with the addition of a fourth book and the dethronement of Theobald in favor of colley Cibber. Pope is concerned for the integrity of the art for which he lived. It shows his satirical power at their best and their worst. It is charged with a stinging wit, and has great vaguer and variety of pace but is spiteful, venomous and often coarse and is too monotonous in its method of attack.

In vain, in van, - the all - composing hour,

Resistless falls:  the muse obeys the power,

She comes! She comes! The sable throne behold,

Of night primeval and of chaos old!

Before her, fancy’s gilded clouds decay,

And all it varying rainbows die away. …

v Essay on Man :-

The essay on man is published on 1733. It is the best known and the most quoted of all Pop’s work. The purpose of the essay is, in Pope’s words to, “vindicate the ways of God to man” and ass there is no unanswered problem in Pope’s philosophy. In the essay he discussed man’s place in the universe. This moral essay were written under the influence of lord Bolingbroke, and their confused reasoning shows pope’s lack of philosophical training and back ground. They do, however contain passages full of force and beauty, and the verse has pope’s usual care and lucidity.

All nature is but art, unknown to thee,

All chance, direction which though, canst too see,

All discord, harmony not understood,

All parties evil, universal good,

And, spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite,

 One truth is clear, whatever is, is right….

The contribution of Alexander Pope in Literature is very significant. He is one of the best poet and critics. He used many poems to express his own life by his work.