Alexander Pope, Pastorals

Ian Gordon (Anglia Ruskin University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1709

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

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Pope's

Pastorals

were among his first published poems, appearing in the sixth part of Jacob Tonson's

Poetical Miscellanies

, on 2 May 1709. Pope originally wrote the

Pastorals

five years earlier, however, in 1704, when he was only sixteen, and passed them round amongst his friends in manuscript form. Pastoral was an appropriate kind of poetry for a budding young poet to cut his teeth on for not only was it a highly stylised convention in which he could demonstrate his developing skills, but in writing such poems he was emulating Virgil, whose

Eclogues

had similarly been his first published poems. Pope takes classical names for his shepherds (Alexis, Damon, Lycidas and Thyrsis all appear in Virgil's

Eclogues

), as well as traditional pastoral situations (a song-contest, a love-complaint, an…

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2721 words

Citation: Gordon, Ian. "Pastorals". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 March 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=2885, accessed 24 November 2024.]

Alexander Pope, Pastorals

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