Alexander Pope Notes

“For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” ---Alexander Pope “I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.” ---Jonathan Swift

Alexander Pope The Man Born in London, Pope was an only child. Received a sporadic education at several Catholic academies and through tutoring by Catholic priests. His formal education ended by the time he was 12. Became his own teacher. – Taught himself Latin and Greek at the age of 12 – Learned French and Italian when he was 15. Often spent time entertaining friends including Jonathan Swift as well as political leaders and artists

Alexander Pope The Writer Influences Inspired by classical works by Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and other ancient Greek and Roman writers Augustan Age writer “The Rape of the Lock” Mock Epic – use a lofty style and conventions of epic poetry to satirize a trivial subject Heroic Couplets – a pair of rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter – Pope is considered a master of the heroic couplet.