Student Question
Can anyone explain lines 68-75 from Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism"?
First follow NATURE, and your Judgment frame
By her just Standard, which is still the same: 70 Unerring Nature, still divinely bright,
One clear, unchang'd and Universal Light,
Life, Force, and Beauty, must to all impart,
At once the Source, and End, and Test of Art.
Art from that Fund each just Supply provides,
Works without Show, and without Pomp presides:
Quick answer:
In lines 68-75 of "An Essay on Criticism," Pope emphasizes the importance of following Nature as a guiding principle for judgment in art and criticism. He describes Nature as unchanging, perfect, and the ultimate source of life, beauty, and art. By aligning our judgment with Nature's standards, which are clear and universal, art can achieve true beauty without unnecessary embellishments. Nature serves as both the inspiration and the benchmark for artistic creation.
Without the fuller context, it will be hard to know what is exactly being stated. However, the word here suggest a few points.
First, there is an exhortation to follow nature. This is explained further by stating that the reader should change his or her mentality to match that of nature. In other words, the reader should strive to think nature's thoughts after it.
Second, nature is praised as consistent and more importantly unerring. Along with these two qualities of nature, there is a praise of nature. It is divinely bright, clear, and beautiful.
Third, reasons are given as to why the reader should follow nature. It is a the source of many things. It is also the standard for beauty. Finally, it is humble, that is, without show and without pomp.
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