Augustan Age
• About 1690-1740
• English poets
• Tried to write as well as classical
poets who wrote in Latin
• Wrote about politics and society
• Satirical, witty, polished style
• Tribute to first Augustan Age during reign of
Emperor Caesar Augustus (year 1, Ancient
Rome)
Alexander Pope
(1688-1744)
English Poet
Translated Homer’s Iliad
and Odyssey
The Rape of the Lock
The Dunciad
Jonathan Swift
(1667-1745)
Born & died in
Dublin, Ireland
Satirist, Poet
Gulliver’s Travels
A Modest Proposal
Influences:
Virgil (70-19 BC) Ancient Roman poet
Ovid (20 BC – 18 AD) Ancient Roman poet
Horace (65-8 BC) Ancient Roman poet
A Description of
the Morning
Now hardly here and there a hackney-coach
Appearing, show'd the ruddy morn's approach.
by Jonathan Swift Now Betty from her master's bed had flown,
And softly stole to discompose her own.
The slip-shod 'prentice from his master's door
Had par'd the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor.
Now Moll had whirl'd her mop with dext'rous airs,
Prepar'd to scrub the entry and the stairs.
The youth with broomy stumps began to trace
The kennel-edge, where wheels had worn the place.
The small-coal man was heard with cadence deep;
Till drown'd in shriller notes of "chimney-sweep."
Duns at his lordship's gate began to meet;
And brickdust Moll had scream'd through half a street.
The turnkey now his flock returning sees,
Duly let out a-nights to steal for fees.
The watchful bailiffs take their silent stands;
And schoolboys lag with satchels in their hands.
An Essay on Criticism: Part 1 by Alexander Pope
'Tis hard to say, if greater want of skill
Appear in writing or in judging ill;
But, of the two, less dang'rous is th' offence
To tire our patience, than mislead our sense.
Some few in that, but numbers err in this,
Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss;
A fool might once himself alone expose,
Now one in verse makes many more in prose.
'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none
Go just alike, yet each believes his own.
In poets as true genius is but rare,
True taste as seldom is the critic's share;
Both must alike from Heav'n derive their light,
These born to judge, as well as those to write.
Let such teach others who themselves excel,
And censure freely who have written well.
Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true,
But are not critics to their judgment too?