An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope, Original Text

An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope, Original Text

Introduction: When Pope was 23 years old, he authored "An Essay on Criticism," drawing on Quintillian, Aristotle, Horace's Ars Poetica, and Nicolas Boileau's L'Art Poétique. The heroic couplets are written in an informal, conversational style. Although it is a discussion of what ethical critics should do, one can learn a lot from it about the traits that poets should aspire to in their own writing. Go to Summary, Analysis, Detailed Overview and Quotes Part I 'Tis hard to say, if greater want of skill Appear in writing or in judging ill; But, of the two, less dang'rous is th' offence To tire our patience, than mislead our sense. Some few in that, but numbers err in this, Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss; A fool might once himself alone expose, Now one in verse makes many more in prose. 'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none Go just alike, yet each believes his own. In poets as true genius is but rare, True taste as seldo…