Alexander Pope Biography and Quotes
Born: May 21st, 1668
Commemoration: May 30th, 1744
Nationality: English
56
Years Old
Famously Known For
Pope contributed immensely to the poetry world with his work. The Rape on the Lock was his best poem.Pope imitated and translated various poetic works. He wrote a poem ‘Messiah’ in 1712 which was an imitation of the Virgil. His other works of imitation were poems by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Alexander Pope contributed as an Editor of works by other poets like Parnell.
Early Life
Pope was born in London City, on May 21, 1688. His parents were Alexander and Edith Pope. Young Pope moved out of London with his family and relocated to Windsor Forest in Binfield around 1700. He didn’t complete his schooling.
Pope fell ill several times during his childhood, which caused him to have a disfigured body. He was 4 -6 inches tall.
Personal Life
The famous poet had no known wife in his life. However, he was becoming attached to Lady Montagu whom Pope made indirect references to in his poem Eloisa. The two were friends up to the end.
Career
His most significant Poetry work ‘The Rape of the Lock’ was released in 1712. It is a long poem full of humor. It was written in the classical style. Pope imitated the ‘Virgil’ in his work ‘Messiah.’ Pope translated Homer’s ‘Iliad’ later on. In 1726 he actively started working on a version of ‘Odyssey.’ He worked with other translators like Elijah Fenton on this project.
Pope edited books and poems by other poets like Duke of Buckingham between 1721to 1723. In 1725 he edited works by William Shakespeare and published six volumes. Pope teamed with Jonathan Swift- a writer and came up with three volumes of poetry. They work later called ‘Dunciad’ or three- book was published in 1728.
Death
Alexander Pope passed on May 30, 1744 from Tuberculosis.
