| Author |
Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744 |
| Editor |
Morley, Henry, 1822-1894 |
| Title |
An Essay on Man; Moral Essays and Satires
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 74.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Credits |
Transcribed from the 1891 Cassell & Company edition by Les Bowler
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| Summary |
"An Essay on Man; Moral Essays and Satires" by Alexander Pope is a philosophical poem written in the early 18th century, engaging with profound themes of human existence and moral understanding. The work explores the nature of humanity, the universe's design, and our place within it, emphasizing that the study of mankind is of utmost importance. Through its structured verses, the poem examines concepts such as happiness, virtue, and the principles governing social relations. At the start of this essay, Pope introduces the overarching theme of the piece by inviting a friend, Lord Bolingbroke, to explore and reflect on the human condition. He discusses the complex layers of human nature and the importance of understanding one's position in the grand schema of the universe. The opening verses set the tone for a philosophical exploration that seeks to justify the ways of God to man, while emphasizing the inherent limitations of human knowledge and understanding. Pope argues for a perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of all beings, asserting that what may appear imperfect in man is in fact part of a greater, divine order. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
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| Subject |
English poetry -- 18th century
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
2428 |
| Release Date |
Dec 1, 2000 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Aug 20, 2007 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
2826 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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