An Essay on Criticism
A Timeless Guide to Poetic Theory and Literary ExcellenceBy Alexander Pope
Length56m
About this audiobook
In "An Essay on Criticism," Alexander Pope presents a profound exploration of the principles of literary criticism and the nature of poetic composition through the lens of neoclassical ideals. Written in heroic couplets, the work employs wit and concise argumentation to elucidate the moral obligations of writers and critics alike. Pope deftly navigates a complex landscape of classical influences, embedding references to Horace and Aristotle, while advocating for balance, reason, and adherence to established artistic norms in an age rife with burgeoning individualism and flamboyant self-expression. Pope, a product of the Restoration and early Enlightenment periods, faced significant challenges, including physical ailments and social ostracization, which shaped his perspective and literary voice. His experiences as a satirist and a leading figure in the Augustan literary movement influenced his views on decorum and the ethics of criticism. Such influences culminated in this essay, which attempts not only to guide writers and critics but also to establish a framework for literary excellence that transcends time. "An Essay on Criticism" is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of literary theory and the importance of critical standards. Pope'Äôs blend of sharp criticism and insightful commentary offers a timeless reflection on the responsibilities of writers, making it indispensable for scholars and students of literature alike.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.9 (2.3K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, StoryGraph
GenreLiterary Classics
Length56 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 19, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
4PART III.
2PART I.
5LINE NOTES
3PART II.
More from Alexander Pope
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
These Precious DaysAnn Patchett11h 14m4.5 (45.2K)$29 · $0.00
The Complete Histories / History Plays of William Shakespeare (Annotated)William Shakespeare29h 42m4.6 (2.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
Braving the TruthRachel Held Evans11h 31m4.7 (359)$29 · $0.00
The Old Man and the Sea (Annotated)Ernest Hemingway4h 27m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Twelfth Night (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography (Annotated)William Shakespeare, Sidney Lee16h 38m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Henry V (The Play, Historical Background and Analysis of the Character in the Play)William Shakespeare, William Hazlitt8h 50m4.6 (1.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
H. P. LOVECRAFT Ultimate Collection: Novellas, Short Stories, Poetry & Essays (Annotated)H. P. Lovecraft12h 28m4.6 (2.3K)$2 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust16h 8m4.5 (10.6K)$1.99 · $0.00
Lessons in TruthH. Emilie3h 50m4.6 (1.4K)$4.70 · $0.00
TORAH - Bilingual Edition: English/Hebrew (Annotated)Max Margolis, JPS28h 26m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
Betty Crocker picture cooky bookBetty Crocker, Inc. General Mills2h 13m4.5 (6.5K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Tales of Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter3h 36m4.5 (75K)$3 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Crime and Punishment (The Unabridged Garnett Translation) (Annotated)Fyodor Dostoevsky24h 25m4.5 (15.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
The North American IndianEdward S. Curtis, Frederick Webb Hodge6h4.5 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Uncensored 13 Chapter Version + The Revised 20 Chapter Version (Annotated)Oscar Wilde16h 12m4.5 (2.8K)$1.99 · $0.00
Grimoire Of The Everyday WitchIsadora Lys / Virginia Santos5h 35m4.5 (3.9K)$9 · $0.00
Winnie-the-PoohAlan Alexander Milne2h 52m4.5 (401.1K)$3 · $0.00
Sitting PrettyRebekah Taussig7h 33m4.5 (18.9K)$26 · $0.00
You may also like
The Complete Works (Annotated)Robert Burns38h 34m4.5 (3K)$2 · $0.00
Is 5E. E. Cummings1h 51m4.3 (502)$2.40
Bashan and IThomas Mann5h 17m3.8 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
The Autocrat Of the Breakfast TableOliver Wendell Holmes Sr.9h 34m3.7 (1.1K)$2.30
Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, Rendered into English VerseOmar Khayyam3h 29m4.3 (125.6K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Saki (Illustrated)Saki52h 58m4.4 (518)$2.99 · $0.00
The Collected Works of William CowperWilliam Cowper73h 51m$2 · $0.00
The Sardonic ArmMaxwell Bodenheim36m$2 · $0.00
On the Beliefs and Convictions of Guinea-PigsLaura Spencer Portor53m$2 · $0.00
Not that it MattersA. A. Milne4h 52m3.8 (183)$2.30
Imaginary InterviewsWilliam Dean Howells9h 44m$1 · $0.00
PoemsClive Bell19m$2 · $0.00
Ariosto, Shakespeare and CorneilleBenedetto Croce7h 30m3.4 (13)$1 · $0.00
Love's Meinie: Three Lectures on Greek and English BirdsJohn Ruskin4h 41m3.6 (22)$2 · $0.00
Soul-Garden of Joy - Desire of EternityUnknown Author57m$7 · $0.00
Varied TypesG. K. Chesterton4h 12m4.0 (104)$2.30
Kocie pomruki/Cat's purrsChabrowski Artur8m$5.40 · $0.00
Beauty of the BeastJohn Bascom1h 49m$15 · $0.00
200 Haiku Love PoemsAdrian Tanase1h 29m$5 · $0.00
The Complete Poetical Works of Stephen Crane (Annotated)Stephen Crane2h 22m$2 · $0.00