{\b Alexander Pope}.

{\b Date of Birth}.: 1688

{\b Date of Death}.: 1744

{\b Works}.

English poet. A prolific writer, he is best known as a satirical poet and a 
skilful manipulator of the 'heroic couplet'. His first influential works were 
his 'Pastorals', written at the age of sixteen and published in Tonson's 
'Miscellany' (1709). They displayed a rare technical adeptness, but were not 
distinguished by their poetry.

After the seminal work 'An Essay on Criticism' (1711), Pope produced one of 
his masterpieces, the mock heroic poem 'The Rape of the Lock' (1712). 'Windsor 
Forest' (1713) added to his growing reputation. His translation of Homer's 
'Iliad', completed in 1720, became an instant classic. 'The Dunciad' (1728), a 
mock heroic satire on 'Dulness', was published anonymously.

{\b Featured Works}.

'Ode on Solitude', 'Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady', 'An Essay on 
Criticism', 'Ode on St. Cecilia's Day', 'The Rape of the Lock', 'Epistle to Miss 
Teresa Blount, on Her Leaving the Town after the Coronation'.

{\b General Comment}.

Alexander Pope was born in London, son of a Roman Catholic linen merchant. He 
attended various Catholic schools but was largely self-taught. A severe 
illness at the age of twelve left him with tuberculosis and a curved spine. 
His physical appearance (he stood at only 4ft 6in) was to provide an easy 
target for his opponents in the many vendettas he entered into during his 
literary career.

He spent a large part of his life drifting in an out of various literary 
circles including those of the playwright William Wycherley and the writer 
Joseph Addison. He joined the Scriblerus Club in 1714 and became friends with 
Swift and Gay.

'The Rape of the Lock' is regarded as a mock heroic masterpiece where the 
trivial incident of a lock of hair being stolen is described in high blown 
language comically inappropriate to the subject. It prompted Dr Johnson's 
famous comment that it is poem in which "New things are made familiar and 
familiar things are made new".

His translation of the 'Iliad' in heroic couplets won him many admirers and 
was later praised by Coleridge for its 'ingenuity'.By 1718 he had few 
financial worries and moved to a house in Twickenham where he lived with his 
mother until his death. He befriended Lady Wortley Montagu who was a great 
support to him until a quarrel soured their relationship.

The coming of the Romantic era of poetry shed a new light on Pope's work which 
was seen as increasingly artificial. He is generally regarded as a writer of 
technical brilliance but who lacked warmth. He was very much a poet of his 
time and is seen as sharp and abrasive satirist with few contemporary peers.