Give a brief account of satire in the eighteenth century with reference to Pope and Dryden.
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Answer
Give a brief account of satire in the eighteenth century with reference to Pope and Dryden.
The eighteenth century/The Neo-classical age (1660-1785) is known as the Golden Age of Satire. Writers used satire to mock and criticize society, politics, and human behavior. Satire is a powerful tool to expose foolishness and corruption in a humorous way. Two great satirists of this time were Alexander Pope and John Dryden. Their works made people laugh and think about serious issues.
Satire: Satire is a type of writing that mocks or criticizes human weaknesses. Writers use humor, irony, and exaggeration to show the faults of people, society, and politics. Satire aims to correct mistakes by making them look ridiculous. It often exposes hypocrisy, foolishness, and corruption.
Alexander Pope: Alexander Pope (1688–1744) is one of the most important poets of the eighteenth century. He is famous for his wit and satire. His works criticize society, bad writers, and human faults. Pope used clever language and humor to teach lessons about life, art, and morality.
“The Rape of the Lock”: Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock” stands as a satirical masterpiece. This iconic epic mocks the fanciful nature of the aristocratic society of 18th-century England. It tells the story of a young woman, Belinda. Her lock of hair is cut by a nobleman, the Baron. He makes fun of high society and their silly customs. The poem teaches that people often focus too much on appearances and unimportant things. The poet writes:
“Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.”
Here the poet says that goodness of heart is more important than showy beauty.
“An Essay on Criticism”: “An Essay on Criticism” is another satirical poem by Pope. In this poem, he attacks bad poets and critics of his time. He calls them foolish and harmful to literature. Pope writes:
“A little Learning is a dang’rous Thing;”
This means half-knowledge can make people arrogant. Moreover, in this poem, Pope provides a completeUnlock this study guide now