Pope makes compelling arguments in these poems about the link between writing poetry and being a decent and ethical person. He believed that the same traits that make a good poet and literary critic also make a good person: thoughtfulness, carefulness, and deep faith. These are all important qualities for anyone to have. Here are the links between Pope's poetry and his life: In "Epistle II" (No. 11), Pope writes about how poetry can affect people's lives forever when it is set to music. He says that poems can bring joy or sorrow to our hearts depending on what song they are sung to. This shows that Pope felt that poetry could have great power over others because its words could be used to cheer someone up or hurt their feelings. In "The Icy Rod", which is written from the point of view of a statue, Pope describes how the poet Byron made him feel. He says that he feels cold and alone but hopes that one day he will be freed from his icy prison. This poem was probably written as a response to something else that was written by Byron. But since both poets' names start with B, this poem has been interpreted as a tribute to them both.