- Sep 2019
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www.poetryfoundation.org www.poetryfoundation.org
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Presumptuous man! the reason wouldst thou find, Why form'd so weak, so little, and so blind? First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess, Why form'd no weaker, blinder, and no less! Ask of thy mother earth, why oaks are made Taller or stronger than the weeds they shade? Or ask of yonder argent fields above, Why Jove's satellites are less than Jove? Of systems possible, if 'tis confest That Wisdom infinite must form the best
Passage of annotation
Written in couplets (AABBCCDD)
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yonder argent fields above, Why Jove's satellites are less than Jove
Referring to the stars in the sky. Specifically the planet Jupiter, since Jove is another naeme for the Roman God.
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Wisdom
Wisdom is capitalized, making it a noun (personification) that represents the Creator.
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Where all must full or not coherent be, And all that rises, rise in due degree
Additional, but necessary lines to add.
Wrap up the meaning of the previous 10 lines by saying humans were made in the way they were because that is how the Almighty intended for it to be.
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arder reason guess, Why form'd no weaker, blinder, and no less!
It's easy to see your flaws, however Pope wants the readers to see that it is more important to "count your blessings" instead of your faults.
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Why form'd so weak, so little, and so blind?
Although man is bad by nature, they still seem to be confused as to why they are so limited in this world.
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Ask of thy mother earth
Could be a reference to an almighty being, since Pope was looking to reach more audience than just Christians.
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