The Enlightenment In England – Modern Humanities Practice Test

The question tests understanding of which poet is best associated with essays on criticism that center around taste and decorum. Alexander Pope is the best fit because his An Essay on Criticism (1709) directly addresses how poetry should be judged and what makes poetry good. He argues that true criticism comes from good sense and a clear sense of nature, and it insists on decorum—writing that fits the subject, style, and epoch. The work treats taste as the crucial faculty by which readers discern quality, and it emphasizes that poetry should adhere to established rules and the sense of the ancient poets while remaining true to English language and sensibility. This combination—explicit discussions of criticism, taste, and decorum—defines Pope’s response to 18th‑century debates about poetic judgment, making him the most fitting choice. Dryden also wrote about criticism and decorum, but Pope’s essay is the quintessential, widely taught statement linking criticism with taste and decorum.