An Essay on

Criticism
Study Guide by Course Hero

its content is akin to a nonfiction essay detailing and

What's Inside supporting Pope's arguments about writers and critics.
Alexander Pope wrote and translated many different types of
literature, using poetic forms to express diverse content.
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1

d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 2 d In Context

k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 3

c Plot Analysis ............................................................................................... 4 The Augustan Age of English

g Quotes ........................................................................................................... 6 Literature
m Themes ......................................................................................................... 8
Alexander Pope was one of the most prominent English poets
of the 1700s. He reflected the artistic values of the Augustan
Age of English literature. The original Augustan Age refers to

j Book Basics the era of the Roman Empire during which Augustus is
emperor. The Augustan Age is known as the golden age of
Latin literature, when poets like Horace, Ovid, and Virgil wrote
AUTHOR
their works. England's Augustan writers emulated these
Alexander Pope
classical poets. Pope and his peers felt that ancient works
followed strict rules yet featured deep meaning, eloquent
YEAR PUBLISHED
language, and the individual and unique voice of the poet.
1711

The Augustan Age of English literature is considered an

GENRE
example of neoclassicism, a term that refers to emulation of
Argument
certain aspects of classical civilizations, namely ancient
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR Greece and Rome. Neoclassicism emphasizes balance, rules,
"An Essay on Criticism" is written from the third-person and a conservative spirit of keeping things the way they are in
perspective. Alexander Pope sums up his beliefs about the society. Pope's focus on rules and propriety is representative
qualities of worthy writing and expands upon them without of this conservative view. Neoclassical authors consider the
bringing his own personal voice or history into the discussion. balance, symmetry, and form of ancient works and try to apply
the rules and greatness of epic poets like Homer and Virgil to
TENSE modern English poetry.
"An Essay on Criticism" is written in the present tense.
Pope's poetry contains many explicit connections to the
ABOUT THE TITLE classics. He emulates the form of their work but updates it for
"An Essay on Criticism" is in the form of a rhyming poem, but modern English audiences. His poem "The Rape of the Lock,"
An Essay on Criticism Study Guide
published partly in 1712 and fully in 1714, portrays a
contemporary social squabble over a lock of hair stolen from a
young woman in the form of a heroic, classical epic poem.
Pope also works directly with classics, publishing a translation
of Homer's foundational works the "Odyssey" and the "Iliad."
This six-volume translation in poetic form, published in 1725
and 1726, is the culmination of decades of studying,
appreciating, and emulating classical civilization.
Pope and Literary Critics
Pope understood that critics could make or break literary
careers and legacies. "An Essay on Criticism" is closely
connected to Pope's own experiences with critics. Pope was a
Catholic in a time when Catholics were not allowed to practice
their religion, hold office, attend public schools, or live within 10
miles of London. He was known for engaging in public
arguments with critics throughout his career. Restrictions on
Catholic participation in society were due to the decision by
King Henry VIII (1491–1547) to break away from the Catholic
Church in order to annul his first marriage. Pope's religious
outsider status, physical disabilities, and lack of formal
education combined to make him a favorite target of critics.
Pope's quick rise to fame was accompanied by many battles
with critics.
Pope responds in a variety of ways to negative criticism that is
unrelated to the content of his work. "An Essay on Criticism" is
one such response. Pope's advice to critics centers on their
tendency to ignore the quality and content of the work and
focus on other, surface concerns. He calls out critics who
"judge of authors' names, not works, and then / Nor praise nor
blame the writings, but the men." Pope expresses that his
combative personality, diminished appearance, and other
personal aspects should not be the basis of criticism of his
poetry. Pope wrote "The Dunciad," a series of books in which
he maligns many critics and literary figures of the time. In "The
Dunciad" Pope declares that the literary world is full of
"dunces" who had no taste or talent. By continually engaging
with critics, Pope keeps his name in the press and on people's
minds.
Even after Pope's death, critics and readers continue to debate
and evaluate the quality of his work. Romantic poetry, which
focuses on emotional truth and individual experience over
form, supplanted neoclassical poetry. The Romantic era saw a
decline in respect for neoclassical poetry's emphasis on form,
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Author Biography 2
rhyme, meter, and other strict poetic rules. He has been
variously considered as a philosopher and as a poet. Today he
is considered one of the most significant literary voices of the
18th century.
Epigrams in Poetry
Epigrams, or brief witty quips meant to teach a moral, began as
quotes on tombstones. Ancient Roman authors developed the
epigram as a poetic form. British authors of the 17th and 18th
centuries imitated and emulated the ancient Roman epigrams.
Today an epigram can be part of any written work. The term
refers generally to a sentence that strikes the reader with
concise and meaningful content in the form of a generalization.
Part of an epigram's appeal is timelessness. The thoughts
contained in epigrams communicate thoughts and
observations held in common by humanity. Epigrams are witty
verbal constructions designed to entertain and educate the
reader.
Pope's epigrams are known for their irony and brilliance. "An
Essay on Criticism" is full of epigrams, many of which found
their way into the English language to the extent that they are
still widely used today. "A little learning is a dang'rous thing"
refers to people's tendency to learn minimally about something
and then act as if they know everything about it. "To err is
human; to forgive, divine" refers to the fact that everyone
makes mistakes, and that people must keep this in mind and be
generous with their understanding toward others. Such
epigrams demonstrate Pope's ability to summarize common
aspects of the plight of human existence in entertaining and
lasting ways.
a Author Biography
Early Life
Alexander Pope was born on May 21, 1688, in London, England.
He was born into a wealthy Catholic family. The year that Pope
was born was the same year that a Protestant king, William of
Orange (1650–1702), took power in England. King Henry VIII
(1491–1547) had split England from the Catholic Church due to
his desire to get the first of his six marriages annulled. Anti-
Catholic measures were passed that forbade members of the
An Essay on Criticism Study Guide Plot Summary 3

Catholic faith to practice their religion, hold government

offices, attend public schools, or live within ten miles of
Retirement at Twickenham
London. The Pope family moved to Windsor Forest because
With his finances secure due to his Homeric translations, Pope
they were no longer able to live in London. Because Catholics
built a country estate in Twickenham, near London.
were not able to attend schools, Pope was tutored at times by
Twickenham was at the time a fashionable country town where
priests but was largely self-educated. He taught himself Latin,
many wealthy English families retired. In this idyllic setting
Greek, French, and Italian. Pope became physically disabled at
Pope wrote his last works and created a famous landscaped
age 12 due to spinal tuberculosis. His body never fully
garden and mirrored grotto, an underground waterway that led
recovered. He did not grow more than four feet, six inches tall.
from the garden to the road outside. One of his most read later
His back was bent over and he suffered frequent bodily pain.
poems is "An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot" which he based on
Pope needed daily care throughout his teenage and adult life.
correspondence with mathematician, physician, and author Dr.
John Arbuthnot (1667–1735). Pope was working on another
epic poem and revising his poems for a new edition when he
Literary Accomplishments died on May 30, 1744.

Pope was a precocious child who wrote poetry from a young

age. He began by imitating the form and style of poets he
admired. Pope visited London often and developed a circle of
Legacy
literary peers and friends. Through his connections and talent,
Pope attracted admirers and detractors during his literary
Pope began to publish his work with the top literary publisher
career and after his death. His legacy was reassessed several
of the era Jacob Tonson (1656–1736). Pope's "Pastorals," or
times. Neoclassicism, which was inspired by ancient Greek and
poems idealizing nature, were published in 1709. By the time
Roman cultures, fell out of favor and Romanticism, which
the "Pastorals" were published Pope was working on "An
focused on emotion and experience rather than on form and
Essay on Criticism." He faced harsh criticism throughout his
style, came to the forefront. When Romanticism was the rage,
literary career and used this poem as an opportunity to
Pope was considered a stodgy representative of a past that
express his frustration at the ways critics could damage
prized decorum and propriety over the authentic experience of
authors' reputations and careers. The meaningful epigrams,
life. As time went on, scholars came to see Pope as a rightfully
masterly use of rhyming couplets, and philosophical insights
leading literary figure of the 18th century. He is considered the
brought "An Essay on Criticism" great success.
best creator of heroic couplets, and his epigrams like "To err is
Pope experimented with different literary content within the human; to forgive, divine" and "Fools rush in where angels fear
form of poetry. "An Essay on Criticism" is a hybrid between a to tread" remain relevant and widely used today.
philosophical essay and a poem. Similarly, Pope's next work
was a short story, a mock epic, and a poem all at once. "The
Rape of the Lock," published partly in 1712 and fully in 1714, k Plot Summary
deals with a contemporary quarrel between two families in
which a young man stole a lock of hair from a young woman. "An Essay on Criticism" is a three-part poem in which
The mixture of heroic form and petty squabbles brought "The Alexander Pope shares his thoughts on the proper rules and
Rape of the Lock" acclaim. Pope wrote a larger scale mock etiquette for critics. Critics assail Pope's work, his background,
heroic work, "The Dunciad," to again decry the stupidity and his religion, and his physical appearance throughout his career.
lack of care that critics often displayed. Pope dedicated many Pope has a lot to say to critics about their common mistakes
years to a translation of Homer's "Odyssey" and "Iliad" in verse and how they could do their job in such a way that intelligently
form. The financial success brought to him by these supports the literary process.
translations led to him becoming the first paid, professional
English writer. He was the first English poet known throughout
Europe and the first English writer to earn a living through his
writing.

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An Essay on Criticism Study Guide
Part 1
Pope explains that both critics and writers should understand
the rules for poetry set forth by ancient Greece and Rome.
These rules were based on the laws of nature such as balance,
symmetry, and beauty without ornamentation. To truly "First
follow NATURE," writers and their critics must have good
judgment and wit. While it is important for writers to stick to
the rules, critics should also understand that sometimes new
approaches are needed for newly developing truths.
Exceptions to the rules are only made for particularly
intelligent, witty, and accomplished authors.
Part 2
Part 2 focuses on critics and lists the many ways that their
criticism is ineffective and inappropriate. Some of the common
mistakes include: considering the part and not the whole of the
work; paying attention only to rules and not to content; judging
because of metaphor, imagery, style, or other less relevant
qualities of poems; praising works simply because they are
new, extreme, foreign, or espouse certain points of view.
Part 3
The last part of "An Essay on Criticism" comes from a more
positive and encouraging perspective. Pope explores what
makes a great critic. The ideal qualities a critic should possess
include integrity, humility, and courage. The poem closes with
an extended tribute to the ancient Greek and Roman writers,
as well as English writers who Pope feels best emulate the
ancients. The best critics are balanced and reflective,
considering their words carefully, knowing that they make and
break authors' careers.
c Plot Analysis
"An Essay on Criticism" is Alexander Pope's argument in poetic
form about the qualities of writers and critics, both as they are
in his times and as he believes they should ideally be. Pope's
satirical work is assailed by critics at every step of his writing
career and "An Essay on Criticism" is an elaborate response to
such critics. Pope's epigrams, or clever literary sayings with a
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Plot Analysis 4
moral about the common mistakes critics make, remain in wide
use today.
Style
Pope's influences are wide-ranging and include many ancient
Greek and Roman texts as well as contemporary texts about
poetry and criticism. "An Essay on Criticism" contains many
well-known epigrams that are based on classical authors' work.
Pope writes in heroic couplets, which are two sentences using
iambic pentameter whose last syllables rhyme and together
express a distinct idea. Iambic pentameter is the most
common meter or pattern of syllables in English poetry. Pope
uses this format to write various kinds of literature that are not
commonly dealt with in a poetic form. "An Essay on Criticism"
can be understood as a nonfiction persuasive essay that
rhymes. Other poems such as "The Rape of the Lock" function
as rhyming short stories. Pope's English translation of Homer's
works is revolutionary in its use of rhyming verse to recreate
the experience of hearing them as poetry as the ancient
Greeks had.
Some conventions in the poem reflect widely used conventions
of the time in which Pope wrote. He often uses contractions
for words ending in "ed," such as "devis'd" and "methodiz'd."
Pope also practices the use of capital letters to emphasize
important ideas. These capital letters do not follow a
consistent grammatical rule. Instead they serve as marks of
personal style and voice.
Advice for Writers
Pope details what he thinks are the most important rules to
follow for writers. His advice is to "first follow NATURE" which
is full of life and truth yet symmetrical and orderly: "Those
RULES of old discover'd, not devis'd / Are Nature still, but
Nature methodiz'd." Ancient Greeks and Romans are the best
example of following the laws of nature in writing. The English
writers of Pope's time, he argues, should study the ancients,
learn from their brilliance, and apply what they learn to their
own work. Writers should model their writing on the "rules of
old" but great writers can be more flexible. Great writers will at
times have to break rules in order to express modern ideas
and the ambiguities of human life. However, even the best
writers must study and understand the reasons for the rules of
poetry established by the ancients. In order to become great, a
An Essay on Criticism Study Guide Plot Analysis 5

writer must first know their own limitations.
Throughout "An Essay on Criticism" Pope develops his notions
of the kind of poetry that fits the requirements set forth by
classical texts. Language should be used both to convey
meaning and as a means to express ideas eloquently. Both are
important and one should not be sacrificed to the other. Pope
refers to the importance of the use of rhyme and meter, which
are required in the poetry of his day. He expresses his
admiration for the works of Homer, whose work he later
translated, and the development of voice that characterized
classic Greek and Roman texts. Pope emphasizes staying true
to one's own expressive voice as a writer while generally
limiting oneself to the established rules of poetry.
from the Catholic Church. Pope also may have his work unfairly
maligned because of his lack of educational background and
his physical disabilities. Similarly, critics should not
misunderstand work as high quality just because it is new or
"extreme." When critics disagree with an author's arguments
they often wrongly disparage the quality of the entire piece of
literature. Pope advises critics to be generous to writers and
avoid being harsh about their inevitable missteps: "To err is
human; to forgive, divine."

Advice for Critics

Pope has much more advice for critics than for writers. Critics
play a large role in the literary world by influencing people's
access to and thoughts about writers' work. Pope sees his
satirical work face acclaim from many readers but harsh
disrespect from some critics. Pope warns critics that they
often think they know more than they actually do: "A little
learning is a dang'rous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the
Pierian spring." The Pierian Spring is a reference to an ancient
Roman fountain that represented the Muses, or goddesses
who inspired writers, artists, and musicians to create. With this
epigram, or witty saying that teaches a lesson, Pope expresses
that critics without in-depth learning do not have access to the
beauty or meaning of poetry. Thus their critiques are not to be
taken seriously. Such critics may fall into habits such as
judging poetry based on its imagery, its beautiful use of
language, or other surface details.

"An Essay on Criticism" lists many of Pope's issues with critics.

He explores the ways that critics are often attracted to trivial
qualities in poetry. He feels that critics' greatest stumbling
block is pride and encourages them to adopt a humble attitude
when writing about writers' work. A common folly of critics is
that they often focus on parts of a work of literature rather
than try to understand the whole: "Most critics, fond of some
subservient art, / Still make the whole depend upon a part."
Pope also notes that critics should not rely on prejudice toward
the author for reasons such as the author's religious
background, national background, or wealth. Pope may be
referencing his own experience as a Catholic, a religious
outsider due to King Henry VIII (1491–1547) splitting England

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An Essay on Criticism Study Guide Quotes 6

— Narrator
g Quotes
Pope speaks here about the positive role critics can play in the
literary process. Critics who are generous and kind to a poet
"'Tis hard to say, if greater want of
can support the poet's creative work and explain its worth to
skill / Appear in writing or in the public.

judging ill."
"Music resembles poetry, in each /
— Narrator
Are nameless graces which no
The narrator begins the poem by leveling the playing field methods teach, / And which a
between writers and critics. He says that both writers and
critics have a lot to learn in terms of the most effective ways to
master-hand alone can reach."
fulfill their roles.
— Narrator

"First follow NATURE." "An Essay on Criticism" emphasizes the importance of rules in
poetry but some aspects of life defy traditional literary
— Narrator expression. Poetry is compared to music which expresses
human emotions in a sensory manner.

NATURE is an example of Pope's use of capital letters to show

that a concept is important. Pope develops a notion of poetry
that is based on the laws of nature, by way of the nature-
"A little learning is a dang'rous
inspired rules established in ancient Greek and Roman works. thing; / Drink deep, or taste not
the Pierian spring."
"Those RULES of old discover'd,
— Narrator
not devis'd, / Are Nature still, but
Nature methodiz'd." This famous epigram warns of a common tendency people
have to think they know more than they do. When people begin
— Narrator to learn about something they sometimes think they know all
there is to know. Pope advises critics that before they judge
poetry they should study the great works of the ancients,
Pope explains that poetic rules are based on the laws of
represented by the Pierian Spring, an ancient Greek
nature. The study of nature reveals qualities like balance,
mythological fountain that inspired the arts.
symmetry, and lack of unneeded ornamentation. Pope
encourages poets to apply such concepts to their writing.

"Most critics, fond of some

"The gen'rous critic fann'd the subservient art, / Still make the
poet's fire, / And taught the world whole depend upon a part."
with reason to admire."
— Narrator

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An Essay on Criticism Study Guide Quotes 7

Pope advises critics to consider a work of literature in its Effective critics should be not the first nor the last to judge
totality. Critics too often focus on a small part of a work rather new authors and works.
than address the author's entire vision and intent.

"Some judge of authors' names,

"Others for language all their care
not works, and then / Nor praise
express, / And value books, as
nor blame the writings, but the
women men, for dress."
men."
— Narrator
— Narrator

Pope advises critics to focus on the content of a piece of

Pope lists and expands upon critics' flaws throughout the
literature not just the eloquence of its language. Some critics
poem. He says that some critics make the mistake of judging
make the mistake of judging literature based on its use of
the authors themselves. Critics focus on authors' personalities
language alone, as Pope claims women judge men based on
and public lives rather than concentrate on the authors' works
their clothing.
as they should.

"But true expression, like th'

"Some praise at morning what
unchanging sun, / Clears, and
they blame at night; / But always
improves whate'er it shines upon, /
think the last opinion right."
It gilds all objects, but it alters
none." — Narrator

— Narrator Pope continues to enumerate the many ways in which critics

behave foolishly. Pope claims that some critics do not even
seem aware of what they are saying. Their words contradict
Pope argues that writers can either confuse or clarify with their
each other and they seem to believe that the last thing they
poetry, and the best poetry reveals truths about its subjects
said is the truth.
while "gilding" or beautifying them.

"Some valuing those of their own

"Be not the first by whom the new
side or mind, / Still make
are tried, / Not yet the last to lay
themselves the measure of
the old aside."
mankind."
— Narrator
— Narrator

Pope tells critics not to acclaim works only because they are
innovative. At the same time, critics should not hold on to The theme of the arrogance of critics continues with Pope
acclaiming the same established authors year after year. expressing his view of the self-centeredness of critics whose

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An Essay on Criticism Study Guide
perspectives are narrow. These critics only appreciate
literature that they agree with because they think that their
own taste is "the measure of mankind."
"To err is human; to forgive,
divine."
— Narrator
This line is one of the most famous epigrams in a poem that
has many. Pope advises critics to be generous with the poets
whose work they review. He tells critics to allow for mistakes
because everyone makes them and to strive toward forgiving
these mistakes in others.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread."
— Narrator
Pope describes the tendency of foolish people to run into
difficult and dangerous situations that morally upright people
would not engage in. Fools do not consider or foresee the
consequences and "rush in" without a thought. Pope portrays
angels as extremely moral beings who think through their
actions first and hold themselves back from doing potential
harm.
m Themes
Rules for Critics
Critics attack Alexander Pope throughout his literary career so
he has a personal stake in explaining the rules critics should
follow if they are to support literary achievement in general.
Pope has much advice for the critics of his time, which he
dispenses using heroic couplets, or pairs of rhyming lines using
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Themes 8
iambic pentameter, the most common pattern of stressed and
unstressed syllables in the English language. Pope uses a
famous epigram to admonish critics who pretend that they
know more than they actually do: "A little learning is a
dang'rous thing." He encourages both critics and writers to
study the work of ancient Greece and Rome to learn how to
best express the laws of nature through poetry. Critics should
know about and focus on such aspects of poetry as its rhyme,
its meter, its eloquence, and its meaning.
"An Essay on Criticism" develops a set of rules that critics
should follow if they are to meaningfully judge authors' works.
He tells critics that they must judge the entire work, not just
focus on any one particular aspect: "Most critics, fond of some
subservient art, / Still make the whole depend upon a part."
Pope lists many common errors critics make such as valuing
only works that support their own points of view, or only works
that are new, or only works that are already praised by others.
Critics often value the wrong things about poetry, such as
focusing on the author's reputation or personality: "Some judge
of authors' names, not works, and then / Nor praise nor blame
the writings, but the men." Pope most likely realizes that critics
will not take his advice to heart, but this poem lets them know
that he is aware of their misjudgments.
Criticism's Effects on Writers
In "An Essay on Criticism" Pope explores the ways that critics
of literature can help or do damage in the literary world. Critics
gained increasing power to support and destroy writers'
careers in the early 18th century. The development of
journalism, including the popularity of periodical publications
like The Tatler and The Spectator, spread information and
opinions on a wide range of topics written in a way that was
aimed at the everyday person of the time. As the recipient of
what he considers shallow and inaccurate criticism Pope asks
critics to appreciate their central role in the literary process.
He begins "An Essay on Criticism" with a jab at both writers
and the critics who judge them harshly. Pope quips that he
doesn't know which one is worse: "'Tis hard to say, if greater
want of skill / Appear in writing or in judging ill."
Critics are makers of taste and setters of trends. They
determine what literature is celebrated or denigrated in society
An Essay on Criticism Study Guide Themes 9

and often do this using shallow, inaccurate reasoning rather

than a legitimate understanding of literature. This tendency of
critics to deride what they do not understand affects Pope
personally. He creates enemies through his satirical takes on
many authors and politicians of the day and this enhances
critics' desires to insult Pope's generally popular work. His
works are wide-ranging and reflect the innovative use of
poetry in the form of short stories, essays, and classical
translations. Pope implies that critics are not educated enough
about the qualities of great poetry to appreciate his work.

Humility as a Value

Pope tries to teach critics and writers to embrace humility as

their central value. They should be humble before nature and
before the achievements of the ancients. Pope argues that
pride causes almost all of the critics' missteps. The many
famous epigrams of "An Essay on Criticism" mostly deal with
negative characteristics of critics. He implores critics to adopt
a humble and generous stance when approaching an author's
work. One of Pope's most famous epigrams refers to the
importance of humility in critics and in general: "To err is
human; to forgive, divine." Critics and writers make mistakes
and both should approach their craft with a generous spirit.

Pope believes that the writers of ancient Greece and Rome are
worthy of reverence and authors should follow their rules.
Pope feels that writers should emulate ancient works and only
bend the rules once they establish their skills as writers. The
ancient writers are awe-inspiring because they took their cues
from nature itself. Their inspiration came from "Unerring
Nature, still divinely bright, / One clear, unchang'd, and
universal light." Critics and writers should show humility before
great writing and nature itself which he implies has a spiritual
quality ("divinely bright" and "universal light"). 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.

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