Alexander+Pope



ALEXANDER POPE Background: Alexander Pope was a man of education and truly had a thirst for knowledge. “Education forms the common mind just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined” (Pope). Alexander was a man of G-d and believed in the Catholic religion. However, this posed a threat to his ability to gain knowledge. During his lifetime, the Church of England was extremely powerful and disliked other religions. Because of this, the Church Prohibited Catholic schools from operating. Despite, these setbacks, Alexander continued to learn, mostly by self-teaching. He yearned for an education and absorbed as much as he could. He attended two illegal Catholic schools and was able to teach himself many things such as languages and literature. He used his poems, essays, and other written works to pass this knowledge to others. His poems than encouraged others to obtain as much knowledge as possible.

Alexander believed in doing one’s part in the society in which one lives. “Act well your part, there all the honour lies” (Pope). In his poems lie significant lessons to be attained by all. For example, the poem “The Rape of the Lock” tells the story of a man cutting a lock of hair off a beautiful woman. He portrays the story in a way that lets people understand both sides and know that if they continue on with their part in life, honour will surround them. He writes, “Already see you a degraded toast” (Pope) to show how the man who cut the lock has been dishonored. He strayed away from his part in his society and in doing so was shamed. In society today, people go to school to learn, then graduate to college where they discover their part in life. They continue to learn and become an expert in their part to end up changing the world whether it be a simple or extreme change. Alexander influenced society using his written works and did his part in society where he accomplished many extraordinary achievements.

Alexander was a complicated and sophisticated man from the beginning. “The learned is happy, nature to explore; the fool is happy, that he knows no more” (Pope). Alexander at the age of six was reading Homer a poet who wrote in a very complex way. Just six more years and he wrote his first poem “Ode to solitude”. Another four years went by and he wrote “Pastorals” a story about some shepherds. As a Catholic, he was unable to get a quality education and diagnosed with Pott’s disease, a disease that causes bone deformity and stunts growth, would give him reasons to withdraw from his part in life. However he did not quit and for the most part was a self-taught man through reading books and studying diligently. As he grew he continued to learn and share his knowledge through his extensive written works. He continued learning and strived to be a learned man.

Alexander’s end was just the beginning for greatness. “Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die” (Pope). Alexander from a young age saw the world in a different way and his nature was to explore. He explored through the literary world and left a very large imprint of his own. That imprint is seen by many and influences others to do the same. All his work is passed on into a never ending flow of knowledge that continues to be changed by the next person. This society has been changed by Alexander Pope and he will not be forgotten, but built upon. The literary world will proceed to build on his works and ideas to try to perfect something incapable of being perfect. Alexander will never cease to influence. Alexander has impacted Earth in a phenomenal way.

Alexander's poems