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 ev'n his Queen unknown,
Changed as he was, with age, and toils, and cares,
Furrow'd his rev'rend face, and white his hairs,
In his own palace forc'd 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, unhous'd, 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,
Seiz'd with dumb joy; then falling by his side,
Own'd his returning lord, look'd up, and died!


Scheme XXAABBCCDD EEXXFFGG
Poetic Form
Metre 1101011101 111101111 0111110101 11110111101 1111110101 101110111 0111011111 1111110101 0111110101 010101110101 11010101 1111010111 1101010101 010101110101 1111110111 1111010111 1111110111 1101011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 832
Words 149
Sentences 4
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 10, 8
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 313
Words per stanza (avg) 74
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

49 sec read
209

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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