Importance of British Literature
Literature has served as many functions throughout history. Writers such as Alexander Pope, Dryden and Defoe forever changed the way writing was done. Each writer in their own way has had an impact on other writings, as well as approaches to looking and judging other writings. Literature is a powerful tool which can be used to get your point across, or it can be used just for the enjoyment of the writer. In Alexander Pope's "An Essay of Criticism" the reader is taking through a series of points and opinions that Pope has on judging poems and other writings. He writes this essay because he feels that "In time good writing will be lost"(Line 474). Pope's essay serves as a proposed guideline for critics so that good writing can once again prevail. His opening line of this essay gives the reader a clear sense of what he is stressing. "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 mis-lead our Sense". Pope's strategy is to write a guideline for critics to use when judging an essay. In this opening statement Pope claims that he doesn't know if it is harder to write or to criticize a work. Pope again uses direct statements
Throughout history there have been many writers, and of course everyone can't be successful. However, many popular writings die down after a certain period of time. It takes a touch of brilliance to have your writings to still be an impact hundreds of years after they were published. All three of these authors have accomplished this feat. Their writings were successful because they are able to address any audience and their strategies, styles and genres have had a lasting impact. as opposed to implying what should be done. He says "A perfect judge will read each word of wit With the same spirit that its author writ: Survey the whole, nor seek slight faults to find Where Nature moves, and rapture warms the mind . . Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be. In every work regard the writer's end, Since none can compass more than they intend(Line 232). Pope shows the reader and states with this quote that this point is important because too many because too many people think that what a critic does with literature is criticize it. This point is important To critique a work of literature is not to identify flaws, or even to judge the relative quality of the work, though sometimes a critic does end up doing one or both of those things. Pope's work is different for his time because he is writing a guideline for critics as well as writers to go by. Pope himself was a critic and was afraid that all good writing would eventually be taking over by bad writing and bad criticisms. Pope uses more of a essay approach in his writing, he makes his points clearly stated then backs them with his opinions and beliefs. I believe this work had a great impact because Pope took a subject in his time whi
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1181
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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