Alexander Pope

READ and DISCUSS all the couplets first, please.

In analytical response to Alexander Pope's heroic couplets (pp. 522-523)...
1.  Try paraphrasing, or expressing in your own words, the idea expressed in any couplet that you find hard to understand.
2.  List a few examples of antithesis (a contrast of ideas expressed in a grammatically balanced statement) that are used by Pope in 2-3 couplets.
3.  Explain how any 2-3 couplets particularly connect with life today-- your own life, or life in politics, education, the arts, media, etc.
4.  Find at least two examples that illustrate wit in the sense of "cleverness."  Explain your choices.
5.  Find at least two examples that illustrate wit in its deeper sense: the elegant expression of a truth about human nature.  Explain your choices.

At the end of your analytical examination of the couplets, choose one of these creative responses to complete:

• draw a picture representing your favorite couplet...
• create a few of your own witty couplets...
• present a challenge or opposing viewpoint to one of Pope's couplets

In response to Alexander Pope's from "An Essay on Man" (p. 524)...
1. Try paraphrasing lines 5-6 and lines 15-16, examining how Pope uses antithesis in these lines
2.  In almost every section of this passage, Pope says something flattering about the human race, only to follow it with something insulting.  According to Pope, what are some of our greatest triumphs and downfalls, as a human race?  Do you believe this structure makes the poem hopeful or negative in its considerations about humanity?
3.  This poem is arranged in a series of couplets which build upon one another, expanding Pope's paradoxical (contrary, opposite opinions that seem to collide, yet both hold true) view of humanity.
Which couplet do you think is the most interesting and true to your own view of humanity?

At the end of your analytical examination of "An Essay on Man", choose one of the ideas/opinions presented by Pope and complete a short, comparison writing piece which...

• argues how it still exists in our world today --OR--
• argues that we, as humans, have evolved beyond 

For either response, you will need specific evidence and support from a current informational source. Some source types to consider include: news sources, magazine articles, TED talks, podcasts, songs, etc.
Please cite this source in MLA format at the end of this 2-3 paragraph, typed response.