English Literature

Unit IV: The Age of Reason

Week 17
Please read:

Alexander Pope:

• The Rape of the Lock, sel., p. 377-385. (The entire poem is available here for those who would like the experience undiluted).
  • Canto 1
  • Canto 2
  • Canto 3
  • Canto 4
  • Canto 5

Look here for a discussion of points in which The Rape of the Lock does in fact parallel genuine heroic epic usage.

• An Essay on Man, sel., p. 387. (Not the entire poem, but much larger pieces, are available here, if you'd like to pursue them):
  • Epistle I
  • Epistle II
  • Epistle III (excerpt)
  • Epistle IV (excerpt)

• An Essay on Criticism, sel., pp. 387-8. (See also the following sites for the complete text of "An Essay on Criticism" if it interests you:
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3

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