1a. To what does Pope compare watches?
2a. To what does Pope compare words and wordiness?
3a. What, according to Pope, is "nature to advantage dressed"?
4a. What general principles for writing and criticism can you find in this selection? State these principles in your own words.
5a. Evaluate Pope's epigrams as a Neoclassical work. What elements of Neoclassicism does this writing represent?
1b. In what sense are judgments like watches, according to Pope?
2b. What, in Pope's view, is usually true of wordy writing?
3b. In what ways might a writer "dress up" a thought?
4b. Does Pope follows his own advice? Explain.
5b. Compare this Neoclassical work to the sonnet in this unit by Charlotte Smith. Smith's poem in many ways reflects Romanticism. Using Pope's and Smith's works, contrast the two movements.
Epigram. Choose one of Pope's epigrams and discuss situations to which it applies. How does the form itself help make an epigram effective?
Couplet. Why would Pope have chosen this form to express his insights? Why do you think his lines are so often quoted?
1. Write a letter giving advice to a young child. You might choose to give him or her general lessons in life, or you might choose a specific area of focus.
2. Think of the rules by which you live, things that you would not do, and standards or principles that you think are important. These should be general enough to apply to many relationships and circumstances. Write a short statement that captures the meaning of one of your rules. Revise this personal aphorism into a heroic couplet.
3. Choose one of Pope's epigrams. Write a fable that uses the epigram as its moral. Fables are short stories, often with animals as characters, that teach a lesson.
Avoiding Wordiness.Rewrite the paragraph on page 618 of your text to avoid wordiness and increase clarity.
Bibliography. People often quote Pope without knowing the source. In research, this is a dangerous practice known as plagiarism. Properly documenting sources is important. Find five interesting facts about Pope. Use at least three sources. Create a bibliography that shows the sources you used.
Interesting Facts about Pope
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Bibliography:
Essay Test.Review the Language Arts Survey 5.57, "Taking Essay Tests." Then write a response to the following: Alexander Pope wrote, "Be silent always when you doubt your sense." In an essay, support or contradict Pope's advice.
