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.