The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-09-10

ALEXANDER POPE.


(Report for Class B, by j. j. b.
have selected Pope the subject of my report
for two reasons. First because he is is widely
quotedas author says. than any other English
poet but Shakespeare, and may add. than any
other writer of English literature. 1t therefore
may prove interesting to know more of him than
space permits Mr.. Beers to devote in text book
Secondly, have made this selection. because the
study of Pope a man. affords a striking
ample of what can be accomplished by self.study
and careful observation of all that pertains to
individual lives. Whether Pope great poet
or not is perhaps debatable question among
eminent critics. One authority calls him the great
est poet Of his century. Clemens Petersen does
not consider him great poet for the reason that
he possessed originality of thought-in other
words. he was not gifted with the genius of great
poet who takes his inspiration from nature. but
that the ideas brought out in Popes poetry were
all suggested to him by some friend incident of
his personal career. This view regarding his
genius of inspiration author wisely leaves to
the consideration of the reader without debate
on his part. 1t is not as a poet that discuss the
merits of Pope, but great literary artist and
in this capacity he has very few successful rivals
in English literature His biographers tell that
he was precocious youth and that at the age of
twelve, he learned latin from the combined teach.
ings of three school.masters and two priests. His
father would not permit him to enter the public
schools account Of his religion. and being forced
to retire from London account of the severity
Of treatment to Papists the boy denied
scholastic education. 1t is that we find pre-.
cocity developing great intellect for the reason
that the young brain is overcrowded in its early
state that it fails to attain continuity of thought
when the youth reaches mature age. Pope how.
ever overcame this obstacle by hard study and by
rigidly disciplinng his mind for eight or nine
years and his literary greatness is largely, if not
wholly due to this fact.
1t has been said that man is the creation of en-
vironment, that his views, social. religious and
political, take color from his surroundings While
this is probably true of humanity on the whole.
we certainly striking exception to the rule
in the writings of Pope. he kept aloof from the
gliter;ng temptations of royal favor that captured
many of his brilliant contemporaries. and stood
on neutral ground free to think and write as he
felt. Living In an age that had not outlived the
immortality of social degradation he could only
see in the manners and customs of his time the
whited sepulcher of social rottenness. and while
he evidently did not possess bountiful supply of
Christian charity towards his fellow creatures he
certainly accomplished by his ever ready wit and
keen sarcasm, much good that was felt and which
enhanced the growth of a higher morality in after
times. Pope exhibits to us what can be accomp-
lished by serious determination of the will to
overcome apparent obstacles. q use the word ap.
parent because apt to consider what is
only apparent, as being real-a great mistake and
a very common one) His writings show him to
be- with all his literary skill, who possessed
his full share of human infrmities His satire
was said to be largely made up of personalities,
and his sarcasm sharp two edged sword
but when take into consideration the social
degeneracy of his times apt to arrive at the
conclusion that Pope thought that the disease
needed such rigorous treatment. Rev. Lyman Alb.
bolt says, that "in studying literature do not
study the printed page-that is the mere she'll
we must study through it the one who wrote it
and get from his or her sentiments the lesson that
the individual character of the writer portrays."
The quotation from Pope, 1T is with marrow
souled people as with narrow necked bottles; the
less they have in them. the more noise they
make in pouring it OUT. is an effective illustra.
ton of his opinion of those who can only one
side to a question, but the beautiful tribute
to Martha Blount shows that Pope with all his
keen sarcasm possessed heart that worshiped
all that is good and pure in human nature.