An Essay on Criticism (1709) MCQs and Summary by Alexander PopeBy: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 13, 2025 25 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/25 Subscribe 1. : What is the main theme of An Essay on Criticism? (A) Nature and beauty (B) Science and religion (C) Literary criticism and poetic rules (D) Political satire 2. : In what form is An Essay on Criticism written? (A) Prose (B) Blank verse (C) Heroic couplets (D) Free verse 3. : What is the famous line: “A little learning is a dangerous thing” referring to? (A) Lack of wisdom in youth (B) Shallow knowledge leading to poor judgment (C) Scientific ignorance (D) Financial illiteracy 4. : Pope compares critics to which mythological figure? (A) Midas (B) Icarus (C) Ajax (D) Daedalus 5. : According to Pope, critics should follow which guide? (A) Personal opinion (B) The church (C) Nature (D) The king 6. : What does Pope suggest about rules of writing? (A) They are outdated (B) They are to be ignored (C) They should follow nature (D) They change every decade 7. : Who does Pope praise as a model critic in the poem? (A) Shakespeare (B) Dryden (C) Homer (D) Horace 8. : “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” means: (A) Only brave people can write poetry (B) Unwise people act hastily in sensitive matters (C) Critics are usually courageous (D) Poets are divine 9. : According to Pope, good critics should be: (A) Harsh and blunt (B) Biased and clever (C) Modest and knowledgeable (D) Arrogant and proud 10. : What quality does Pope believe a poet and a critic should both have? (A) Ambition (B) Wit (C) Wealth (D) Jealousy 11. : Pope believes true taste is based on: (A) Imitation (B) Rules of ancient poets (C) Common sense and reason (D) Modern trends 12. : Who are the “dunces” in the poem? (A) Honest poets (B) Great writers (C) Ignorant critics (D) English kings 13. : What does Pope advise critics to do before judging others? (A) Read ancient Greek texts (B) Write a poem (C) Examine their own faults (D) Learn new languages 14. : “To err is human, to forgive divine” expresses: (A) Poets make no errors (B) Forgiveness is a rare quality (C) People always forgive (D) Criticism is unnecessary 15. : Who does Pope believe are better suited to judge poetry? (A) Academics (B) Readers of novels (C) Well-read and humble critics (D) Aristocrats 16. : What type of criticism does Pope warn against? (A) Encouraging (B) Constructive (C) Harsh and ignorant (D) Theological 17. : What does Pope say about modern critics compared to ancient ones? (A) They are more skilled (B) They lack depth (C) They are more fair (D) They are better educated 18. : What does Pope consider the source of all great art? (A) Nature (B) God (C) Tradition (D) Education 19. : Which poetic technique is An Essay on Criticism notable for? (A) Blank verse (B) Satirical allegory (C) Heroic couplets (D) Dramatic monologue 20. : Pope criticizes critics who follow trends without: (A) Writing books (B) Understanding the classics (C) Being paid (D) Joining universities 21. : Who said “The sound must seem an echo to the sense”? (A) Horace (B) Milton (C) Alexander Pope (D) Chaucer 22. : What is Pope’s attitude toward ancient writers like Homer and Virgil? (A) Indifferent (B) Dismissive (C) Reverent (D) Hostile 23. : According to Pope, bad criticism harms: (A) Only poets (B) The nation (C) Literature as a whole (D) Schools 24. : What poetic device is most dominant in Pope’s Essay? (A) Allegory (B) Free verse (C) Rhymed couplets (D) Concrete poetry 25. : Pope’s Essay on Criticism combines elements of: (A) Satire, didacticism, and poetics (B) Romance and epic (C) History and fiction (D) Tragedy and comedy Related Posts:Alexander Pope MCQs [English Literature & Famous Authors]Alexander Pope MCQs (Neo-Classical Age of English Poetry)An Essay on Criticism MCQs & SummaryAlexander’s Feast MCQs and SummaryCriticism and Theory Past PapersArt Criticism MCQs [Fine Arts]