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
This poem is a satire, which makes fun in a why in which only people who know the person can recognize. The last writer that I will discuss in my paper is Dryden. In "Absalom and Achitopel" Dryden writes this work as a poem that proclaims that James should be the next king of England. Defoe writes the story in a first-person narrative, this helps the reader to really get into the story because you feel that Robinson Crusoe is talking directly to you. Achitophel was representing Anthony Ashely Cooper who was a counseler to Charles II. In every work regard the writer's end, Since none can compass more than they intend(Line 232). Much like the other two writers Dryden's readings are still popular today and are widely read throughout the world. An example of this would be "Of these the false Achitophel was first: A name to all succeeding ages cursed"(Line150). I believe a true mark of a good work is how long it circulates and is in usage, Pope's works are still used hundreds of years after they came out which truly symbolizes a good work. 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. We see this throughout the novel but especially when he is first shipwrecked. Defoe took a huge step in writing Robinson Crusoe it is looked at as one of the first novels of its time, and like Pope's works is still widely read today. In this scenario Dryden is trying to persuade the readers of this article to place James as king and to disagree with Parliament. Dryden mocks figures of the government as well as gives his reasons why he believes this is a bad decision.
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Acceptance Essays
