An Essay on Criticism

As its name suggests, Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism is first and foremost a treatise directed at critics of art—particularly literature. Its central theme is thus The Causes of Poor Aesthetic Judgment, and its three-part structure loosely corresponds to the introduction, body, and conclusion of a typical prose essay. In Part 1, Pope lays out his thesis: that bad criticism is worse than bad art and that critics must understand the nature of art itself before making their critiques. In Part 2, he goes into detail about the various ways in which critical judgment may err. Lastly, in Part 3, he outlines what good criticism would look like.

However, that Pope wrote this essay in verse indicates that it is not merely meant to persuade readers of its core claim. For one, Pope’s use of poetic form and figurative language, including alliteration, extended metaphor, and simile, takes on increased prominence in light of his claims about the proper Balance Between Art and Nature. Pope warns writers and critics alike about mistaking stylistic flourishes for poetic quality, inevitably inviting scrutiny of his own choices.