Alexander Pope (1688-1744) established his reputation with the precocious Pastorals in 1709 and Essay on Criticism in 1711, which were followed by a parody of the heroic epic The Rape of the Lock 1712-1714, and "Eloisa to Abelard" in 1717.

Short Biography:

Other works include a highly Neo-Classical translation of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey 1715-1726.

He had a biting wit, which he expressed in the form of heroic couplets. As a Catholic, he was subject to discrimination, and his life was embittered by a deformity of the spine.

The success of his translations made it possible for him to settle in Twickenham from 1719, but his edition of Shakespeare attracted scholarly ridicule, for which he revenged himself by a satire on scholarly dullness, the Dunciad in 1728.

His philosophy, including An Essay on Man 1733-1734 and Moral Essays 1731-1735, was influenced by Bolingbroke. His finest mature productions are his Imitations of the Satires of Horace 1733-1738 and his personal letters. Among his friends were the writers Swift, Arbuthnot, and Gay. His line "A little learning is a dangerous thing", is often misquoted.

Why is Alexander Pope famous?

Alexander Pope was a English poet and satirist.  

Alexander Pope Movies
Wabash Avenue FBI Girl All the Brothers Were Valiant
Alexander Pope Filmography

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Tags: satirist, essay, criticism

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Category: Poets  - ( Poets Archive)

Date Added: 31 May '12

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