106-407 Pope and His Enemies

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in English, see Honours entry.

This subject investigates the complex of ideals and hostilities that comprised the English literary world at a crucial point in its development of canons of taste and 'good form'. As a prime figure in early 18th-century literature, Pope had fierce detractors as well as keen admirers, and his own embattled position suggests the deep conflicts (political, religious, social and sexual) characteristic of the age. Amongst topics to be considered are satire and the discourse of classicism, Augustan mythologies, landscape, the theatre and the universities, the changing fortunes of Pope's poetry from publication till now. Also relevant will be his friendship with other writers such as Swift and Gay, his quarrels with booksellers and editors, and the relationship between 18th-century writing and the other arts.

Written work totalling 5000 words for 4th year, 6000 words for masters students.

• J Gay, The Beggar's Opera. Penguin.
• R Greenberg & W Piper (eds), The Writings of Jonathan Swift. Norton.
• M Price (ed), The Oxford Anthology of English Literature Vol 3 (The Restoration and the 18th Century). Oxford.
• P Rogers (ed), Alexander Pope: A Critical Edition of the Major Works. Oxford.