An Essay on Criticism

Introduction 

Alexander Pope was a poet and a translator from Latin to English. His thoughts are derived from Dryden. The essay is written in heroic couplet and divided into 3 parts. 

  • The thesis; it presents problem. 
  • The antithesis; it presents what makes a bad critique. 
  • Synthesis; the celebration of good critique. 

Essential Qualities for Every Writer:

  • Nature: Nature to Pope is God like. It is the source and end of art. He was influenced by classical thought that nature is order method organization and everything. 
  • Wit: It means creativity. 

What makes a bad Critic: 

  • Pride 
  • Little learning  
  • Fearless youth  
  • Making the whole depend upon a part  
  • Conceit  
  • Language 
  • They express their own thoughts 
  • Judge of authors names  
  • Basing the analysis on the author’s social status 
  • Schismatic

Pope’s Advice for Good Critics: 

  • A critic should be moral.
  • He should have self-knowledge.
  • He does not mention personal feelings.