Those Augustans

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Those Augustans Written by Laraine (9/25/2006 5:18 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Admiring Pope 'no more than is proper', penned by Barbara

As Delories said, the Augustans and their "Age of Reason" were all about rationality: proportion, restraint, order, and decorum.

The Houyhnhnms in Gulliver's Travels are perhaps the best known example of the Augustan admiration for Greek stoicism and rationalism.

Pope's reputation for anti-sensibility stems from lots of things, but his excruciatingly regular prose and rhyme are one major piece of evidence for his love of rationality and order. Consider this bit from An Essay on Criticsm:

Hear how learn'd Greece her useful Rules indites,
When to repress, and when indulge our Flights:
...
Just Precepts thus from great Examples giv'n,
She drew from them what they deriv'd from Heav'n
The gen'rous Critick fann'd the Poet's Fire,
And taught the World, with Reason to Admire.

Quite a lot of the writing of the "Age of Sensibility" (usually thought to be between 1750-1798; Pope died in 1744) was a transition between the Augustans and the Romantics--but some critics think of it as being clear reaction against (rather than transition from) Neoclassism. I suppose it depends on the writer. Cowper is probably an excellent example of a transitional writer.

I could go one for many more paragraphs, but I'd say that's heart of Pope as being "anti-sensibility."

I think that Marianne would have found large doses of Pope too orderly and neoclassical to fit in with her generally Romantic viewpoints. But she probably is also very capable of admiring the wit and the genius.

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Admiring Pope 'no more than is proper' Barbara (9/24/2006 6:39 p.m.)

Marianne's literary taste polarised in adaptations Tom P2 (9/25/2006 11:54 p.m.)
- Small clarification Laraine (9/26/2006 1:37 p.m.)
Those Augustans Laraine (9/25/2006 5:18 p.m.)
- Thank you! Barbara (9/25/2006 5:21 p.m.)
  - But Pope can also be VERY funny! Delories (9/26/2006 11:33 a.m.)
Elinor (and JA) are poking gentle fun... Delories (9/25/2006 4:05 a.m.)

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