The Dunciad. With Notes Variorum, And The Prolegomena Of Scriblerus

by Alexander Pope

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Genres: Poetry, Classics, Satire, Fiction, Humor, 18th Century, School

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1743

About the author

People best remember The Rape of the Lock (1712) and The Dunciad (1728), satirical mock-epic poems of English writer Alexander Pope.

Ariel, a sylph, guards the heroine of The Rape of the Lock of Alexander Pope.


People generally regard Pope as the greatest of the 18th century and know his verse and his translation of Homer. After William Shakespeare and Alfred Tennyson, he ranks as third most frequently quoted in the language. Pope mastered the heroic couplet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...

Reviews

[Savonarola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best read aloud all at once, maybe with a midway intermission.

[Jonfaith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The edition I read did not offer footnotes, so The Dunciad was largely amusing to read albeit inscrutable, I did gather that Shakespeare and Milton sought to defeat the Night King and the Endless Night. Alas, Chaos triumphed.

[Daniel Polansky]

Alexander Pope shitting on his rivals in rhymed verse. It was funny if unsurprising to be reminded of the universal pettiness of writers as a class, but in retrospect I’m not sure why I read this

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even when it was first released, 'The Dunciad' was not a poem which was received positively by everyone. It was, and still remains, very controversial. Some critics have noted that changing moral norms and changing historical circumstances have further enfeebled the poem's relevance nowadays.

Granted, 'The Dunciad' is very hard to understand. I usually do not like to skip the footnotes, but in this case it is not a matter of opinion, they are essential. Ironically, I have spent more time reading the footnotes than the actual poem itself. However, I have come to appreciate that it is only by such an awareness of these real personalities does the poem retain its comic tension. Furthermore, 'The Dunciad' reflects a certain Augustan tradition and attitude which is rooted deep in the classical past, so a background reading is recommended.

What really redeems 'The Dunciad' from mediocrity or oblivion, especially nowadays, is its general tendency to focus on an idea of 'eternal interest', as personified by Queen Dulness and her vast army. Personally I think that Book Four by far the masterpiece of the whole composition, reflecting a certain degeneration of the literary spirit that is unfortunately comparable to nowadays. Pope foresaw a particular perversion of moral ideas that has since become a reality. However, 'The Dunciad' should not be misunderstood to be pessimistic. It was the aim for a satirist to emphasize chaos, all that is negative in life and humankind, as being triumphant in the end; "Universal Darkness buries all".

This is deliberate, and I daresay effective. By depicting the rise of bad taste, dulness and folly in society, the satirist is laying bare his own personal convictions and moral standards. Pope was a little negative in this regard, I think, but that does not mean that he was not right in his writing 'The Dunciad'. If only more people took such an interest in the contemporary affairs and personalities of these times, we would not be in the position we are in. The Queen of Dulness is constantly gaining territory, even as we speak.

DeQuincey had described 'The Dunciad' as "a monument of satirical power". I would not say that it is better than, say, 'The Rape of the Lock', but it still remains one of the most imaginative, unfortunately almost prophetic as well, and effective compositions of the eighteenth century, possibly of the human history.

[Adam Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could be said that The Dunciad is the third in the Scriblerus Trilogy; which also include the Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus and Peri Bathous - but then, a lot could be said about The Dunciad.

For a start, how do you know when you’ve read it? There’s the original anonymous Dunciad, the Dunciad Variorum and the later four volume Dunciad in which the King of the Dunces is no longer Tibbald but Colley Cibber. I expect the confusion is part of the point. Pope was very calculating in what he released to the public and how. In this case, he released the first Dunciad so he could gather attacks and responses in which to include in the Dunciad Variorum.

Pope also uses the chance to kick the people he doesn’t like - and to just keep sticking that boot in. It’s vicious.

If anyone took a jackhammer to crack a nut, it was Alexander Pope.

The Dunciad is obviously unfair to it’s targets. Included for ridicule are people like Daniel Defoe and Eliza Haywood who developed the novel, people like Ned Ward who captured the voice of the age, even critics like Dennis and poor Tibbald (or Lewis Theobald to give him his real name) , who pioneered modern techniques of criticism and close reading. In many ways, Pope is on the wrong side of history. What he calls Dulness, we call modernity and what he calls Chaos, we call relativism, and a more nuanced way of analysing. Despite this, Pope manages argue from that wrong side with more savage brio and panache than many have ever been able to on the right side. What would he say of today…

See Dan Brown hide clues that shine bright as day
And EL James dissolve in Shades of Grey
Spawn of dark world where vampires glitter
Celebrity bards dive in the shitter.

[Olivia McQuaid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this would have been considerably more enjoyable if I knew anything about the period in which Pope was writing this, but alas, I do not. Pissing contest bit was funny tho.

[Makayla MacGregor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very, very, very strange poem.
We read Book 2 of the Dunciad for class. I'll be honest straightaway that I hardly understood any of it — the allusions and referential bits composed so much of the poem that it's impossible to get through without footnotes — and my understanding of the text largely came from helpful analyses online that walk through the meaning of the poem. Yet even with these summaries to guide the reading, I still found it to be duller than Dulness herself; the form, while fascinating in the poetic sense, ultimately detracted from the symbolism and themes Pope was communicating — I really think his ideas would have been much more effective if it were prose and not poetry (but take this opinion with a grain of salt since, in general, I'm not really a poetry person, so I'm very biased).
Outside of the general chaos of the poem, it was actually really funny. The peeing contest, for one, was absolutely insane and it was hard to believe that this was written in the eighteenth century — a time where I imagine everyone being rigid and repulsed by anything to do with this sort of humor.
While I may not have enjoyed reading this, I still have an appreciation for it, and for the personality Pope must have had to come up with such strange contests.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

So turns out I still don't like poetry. Shocking, I know.

Could just leave it there but I won't. Pope is a very witty person with a fun taste for satire. I just don't particularly enjoy reading it. I love hearing it but his writing is just too dense and too littered with in-references that take me ages to figure out or meant consulting footnotes that took me out of the story entirely. I am not well-versed in the jargon of the time and cannot afford to spend too much time on that right now either. I see its purpose but I find the concept and context funnier than the actual thing.

[Aniek Verheul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a confusing text. I think it would be very interesting for those more familiar with the people mentioned here, and the general circumstances of the text, but for me, it was just weird. I'm just not a big fan of toilet humour, I guess.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the grim ending, “And Universal Darkness buries All.” I believe the Dunciad is best read when considering the stage of life Pope was in. He was sick and dying, which turned his typical Horatian satire into something darker.

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025:
5 Stars

More relevant than ever I think. We live in the ultimate age of Dulness.

[Emma Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The footnotes and commentary made this exhausting to read. But scathing critiques and outrageous satire are in full force here. Hope to give this another chance when I have more time to pair my reading with scholarship. On its own, I found it quite difficult to tackle.

[Emma Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am more accustomed to Pope's verse now and can appreciate his use of nonsense and obscure subject matter as well as his subtle satirisation of societal expectations to a greater degree. As ever Pope's command over rhyme is enviable and truly makes for some enjoyable reading and I find his political commentary especially pert and relatable to the times we are experiencing now. I particularly loved in this epic poem the greater suggestion of Pope's involvement with the Scriblerius club and the overtones of Swift's influence on his abstracted imagery.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aced a paper on it and I still have no idea what it's about/what happens in it

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the publication of his ‘Homer’, Pope limited himself exclusively to satiric and didactic poetry. Being a poetical prodigy whose development was affected by his circumstances, his emotions, very unfortunately took the form of extreme bitterness.

Pope took offence at every scorn and sneer of his deformity and the four books of the Dunciad is chock full of his wrath.

It is very remarkable to note that the pain given by Theobald's ‘Shakespeare Restored’, in which he could not perceive the justice he received, the censure, hastened the writing and publications of ‘The Dunciad’. In effect, the publication shows the most complex of Pope's manoeuvres.

In 1728, this tome appeared unanimously as he was nervous about acknowledging his attack on a man of writers. Emboldened by the success of this edition, he brought about a more elaborate form in 1729. Now names appeared in full, whereas previously only initials had been used.

Though ‘The Dunciad’ takes hints from Dryden's ‘Mac Flecknoe’, the plan is puffed-up. This tome is four times its length and though principally attacking Theobald, it arsons whole of his enemies battalions.

Professing an attack of wit against the dunces it is fundamentally a staunch attack against reviewers and critics. Thus, The Dunciad seems to have fared the poorest as it is "least dignified for it is the least authentic to the poets own higher conception of satire." Thus, he marred his satire by making it a vehicle of personal animosity.

When the first edition was published, it was presented to the King and Queen. While the ridiculed authors tried to stop its sale, booksellers made hard efforts to sell it.

The 'Dunces' in fact held weekly meetings to plan their revenge. They burnt his effigy and even complained to the government. False editions bearing an owl or an ass on the front piece appeared. There was general uproar. Pope was exultant and was indifferent to the invectives piled against him.

However, he was, by his own admission, the aggressor. He was proud that royalty and nobility had read his books, a quality he affected to loathe.

The second edition was even more popular as the common man could point out names and delight in the shafts of malice which earlier had been shot in the air.

The end result was that he created a host of rivals by ridiculing his contemporaries. Thus began the war of the 'Dunces' a history of attacks and counter-attacks.

However, generally, though his dunces must have been dull, it is shockingly unjust. His mockery of the Grub-street writers lacks bigheartedness -- a poem aiming to lash at irrelevant and dull writers seems to have no moral aim.

Pope seems to insist on the poverty of his dunces. However grand the rhetoric of the poem, it has faded into obscurity as it no longer interests the modern reader.

Obviously, an element of unfairness may be permitted in satire, but his choice of Theobald was biased, as he seems to have been infuriated by the superiority of his Shakespearean criticism.

Pope claims that he had overwhelmed his victims and that they could no longer obtain employ ment, seems farfetched and ridiculous. He is being ruthless and unfair to Cibber who appears as Bard. We even fail to make Bentley look ridiculous.

‘The Dunciad’ is inferior to his earlier mock-heroics. Most of the passages seem superfluous. It is a merely a stylish illustration of a ludicrously pompous satire. Though it has grand rhetoric, there is grossness of images, impure ideas, petulance and malignity. However the beauty of the satire cannot be desired, "the formation and dissolution of Moore, the account of The Traveller, the misfortune of the florist and the crowded thoughts and stately numbers which dignify the concluding paragraphs".

The poem has been inspired by personal bitterness rather than principles of literature. However, though he claimed, that he attacked in the interests of all honest men, must be rejected, it must be conceded that it is not moreover a thirst of malice. In the later parts, there is a chastisement of literary vices, without enduring personal malice.

Pope wrote ‘The Dunciad’ to regain his lost honour is full of spite. His unjust attack an Theobald, petty satire of Bentley fails to make his victims appears ridiculous. In fact, being a personal satire, it is an illustration of his vindictive nature. He sought to take revenge on all critics and writers at whose expense he aimed to please.

Satirical criticism when credible and just, is cherished. Being a powerful indictment of dullness and intellectual pretentiousness, ‘The Dunciad’ fails to rectify errors, improve judgement and refine public taste. Satire should be balanced and significant - the satirist should be sincere, logical, and cool. Emotions cloud his intellect it fails in its purpose.

Two on five.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’d think Alexander Pope invented being a hater. Ruthlessly satirical of his contemporaries, his predecessors, English society, and the Catholic church (the last of which is ironic coming from a guy with the last name Pope), The Dunciad no doubt had its 18th-century readers covering their mouths and going “Oh ho ho! You tell ‘em, Alexander!”. While the repeated use of mispronunciation for the sake of rhyme feels cheap and makes a first read often frustrating, and Pope often comes across as thinking he’s smarter than everyone else, The Dunciad makes for a challenging yet worthwhile read for even a novice fan of poetry.

[Nick Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Pope was a rapper, he would definitely be more like Eminem. Hard diss tracks from Em, and critique at its finest in Alexander Pope, who is known for his satirical type of writing. These were odd men who stood out, one is of Caucasian race, but performing an art that is dominated by the African Americans. Pope was 4 feet 6 inches from the ground and suffered from Pott’s disease causing an abnormal hunchback. Crazy thing is, nobody messes with them because their words hurt more than physical pain. Post proves that as he shames political figures (Monarchs)

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexander Pope takes revenge on every contemporary writer who wronged him (and more than a few who didn't), by writing them into a classic poem about how pretentious and dumb they are. Some of them, like Lewis Theobald, are now more famous for how Pope lampooned him here than they are for any of their own works.

Of course, Pope is something of a hypocrite. He turns his nose up at the crudeness of his contemporaries, but also has a whole stanza about a pissing contest.

Still, this was a entertaining read, and fascinating example of literary cattiness.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pope was a messy gossipy bitch I love it. He not only brought receipts, he brought other people’s receipts so he could be like “look I’m only telling you what other people have been saying.” God-level fuckery.

[Lulu]

1728 three dunciad. In 1741, Pope wrote a fourth book of the Dunciad and had it published the next year as a stand-alone text. He also began revising the whole poem to create a new, integrated, and darker version of the text. The four-book Dunciad appeared in 1743 as a new work.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

i have no patience for this stuff. the fourth book is okay but the endless lampooning of writers we've long forgotten about gets old real fast.

[Josy · Rating 5 out of 5]

there is only one phrase weighty enough to do justice to this absolute monster of a poem: Real King Shit

[Angelica Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Risa · Rating 1 out of 5]

it's not you, it's me and my complete lack of willpower to enjoy or understand this 'poem'

[Jordyn Fleming · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alexander Pope despised his contemporaries, and satirized them to make himself feel better about his intelligence and opinions. I usually enjoy the classics, but ew.

[Keeley Bryant]

I don’t think I understood this enough to give it a rating

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 - 3 is gossip; book 4 is a masterpiece.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole, I did enjoy reading this poem, although I found it very difficult to read. I've heard before that it's very hard to comprehend the first time around, and I would have to agree. Although I did find it humorous, I'm not sure that I pciked up on all of the jokes and satire, even with the footnotes. I think a better knowledge and understanding of British cultural history would have helped me.

I think I only really managed to read the surface of the poem, but anythign which I didn't pick up on was not because of Pope but because of my understanding of it.

[Meg Merante · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extraordinarily dense: First because of the way it is written, secondly because there are tons of footnotes to get through in order to understand the writing. And after all of that, Pope only comes off as a pretentious jerk who hates the world. It seems his purpose may have been to extort what he found bad in society so much so that the absurdity should have been comical, but the humor was lost on me.

[jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

5/10

his style is wonderful, his words are very amusing, but i found it tricky to wholly buy into the poem's conceit. i get/appreciate it, but i much prefer Pope when he's writing on something slightly less timely. in any case, it's about three hundred million light years ahead of the stinking Prelude