Analysis of Argus.

Alexander Pope 1688 (London) – 1744 (Twickenham)



When wise Ulysses, from his native coast
Long kept by wars, and long by tempests toss'd,
Arrived at last, poor, old, disguised, alone,
To all his friends, and even his queen unknown:
Changed as he was with age, and toils, and cares,
Furrow'd his reverend face, and white his hairs,
In his own palace forced to ask his bread,
Scorn'd by those slaves his former bounty fed,
Forgot of all his own domestic crew;
The faithful dog alone his rightful master knew:
Unfed, unhoused, neglected, on the clay,
Like an old servant now cashier'd, he lay;
Touch'd with resentment of ungrateful man,
And longing to behold his ancient lord again.
Him when he saw he rose, and crawl'd to meet,
('Twas all he could) and fawn'd and kiss'd his feet,
Seized with dumb joy: then falling by his side,
Own'd his returning lord, look'd up, and died!


Scheme ABCCDDEEFFGGHIJJKK
Poetic Form
Metre 1101011101 111101111 0111110101 11110101101 1111110101 10110010111 0111011111 1111110101 0111110101 010101110101 11010101 1111010111 1101010101 010101110101 1111110111 1111010111 1111110111 1101011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 807
Words 147
Sentences 2
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 18
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 630
Words per stanza (avg) 147
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Submitted on August 03, 2020

Modified on March 05, 2023

47 sec read
21

Alexander Pope

Alexander Pope (1688-1744) is regarded as one of the greatest English poets, and the foremost poet of the early eighteenth century. He is best known for his satirical and discursive poetry, including The Rape of the Lock, The Dunciad, and An Essay on Criticism, as well as for his translation of Homer. more…

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