An Essay on Criticism

A Timeless Guide to Poetic Theory and Literary ExcellenceBy Alexander Pope
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
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

Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
These Precious DaysAnn Patchett11h 14m4.5 (45.2K)$29 · $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
The Mis-Education of the NegroCarter Goodwin Woodson4h 32m4.5 (28.4K)$10 · $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)$0.99 · $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)$0.99 · $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
The Poetic Edda & The Prose EddaSnorri Sturluson, Saemund Sigfusson9h 34m4.5 (4K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Satires & Essays of Mark Twain (Annotated)Mark Twain23h 21m4.5 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesLucy Maud Montgomery11h 10m4.4 (1.3M)$8 · $0.00

You may also like

The Complete Works (Annotated)Robert Burns38h 34m4.5 (3K)$2 · $0.00
Poems of Emily Dickinson – Series 1Emily Dickinson1h 19m4.2 (2.6K)$10
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
The Collected Works of William CowperWilliam Cowper73h 51m$2 · $0.00
The Sardonic ArmMaxwell Bodenheim36m$2 · $0.00
Elements of CriticismLord Henry Home Kames24h 43m4.0 (223)$1.99 · $0.00
On the Beliefs and Convictions of Guinea-PigsLaura Spencer Portor53m$2 · $0.00
The Absurdities of Being an Actor - A Quietly Brutal Guide to Waiting Rooms, Almosts, and Still Showing UpMax Paradox3h 24m$7.80 · $0.00
Not that it MattersA. A. Milne4h 52m3.8 (183)$2.30
SELECT CONVERSATIONS WITH AN UNCLE (The Original 1895 edition)H. G. Wells3h 20m3.4 (161)$1.99 · $0.00
Varied TypesG. K. Chesterton4h 12m4.0 (104)$2.30
Imaginary InterviewsWilliam Dean Howells9h 44m$1 · $0.00
The Greatest Essays of Henry David Thoreau - 26 Influential Titles in One EditionHenry David Thoreau18h 43m4.5 (23)$1.99 · $0.00
The Absurdity of Online Shopping in the USA - How Convenience Became a Trap, Free Shipping Became Emotional Blackmail, and Browsing Replaced WantingMax Paradox3h 20m$7.80 · $0.00
Kocie pomruki/Cat's purrsChabrowski Artur8m$5.40 · $0.00
Tender Buttons (Annotated)Gertrude Stein3h 4m$1.99 · $0.00
zazou haïkuMichelle Léonor12m$5.80 · $0.00
The Complete Poetical Works of Stephen Crane (Annotated)Stephen Crane2h 22m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Poetry of James JoyceJames Joyce2h 1m3.5 (999)$2 · $0.00