Alexander's Feast is said to be more rhetorical than poetic. Do you agree? Is the rhetoric proper for the public occasion? Discuss. ( MEG 102 ) ( MAC FLECKNOE )

Alexander's Feast, or The Power of Music, is a poem by John Dryden that celebrates the power of music and its effect on the emotions. The poem was written to commemorate St. Cecilia's Day, an annual celebration of music and patron saint of music, and was first performed as a musical ode in 1697.

Some critics have argued that Alexander's Feast is more rhetorical than poetic, as the poem is heavily focused on the use of rhetorical devices, such as metaphors, allusions, and elaborate language, to convey its message. However, while the poem does make use of rhetorical devices, it is also a work of great poetic beauty, with vivid imagery, rich language, and a carefully crafted structure that serves to enhance its meaning and effect.

In terms of its suitability for the public occasion of St. Cecilia's Day, the rhetorical style of Alexander's Feast can be seen as appropriate and effective. As a work of public art, the poem was intended to inspire and uplift its audience, and the use of rhetorical devices helped to create a sense of grandeur and emotional intensity that would have resonated with the listeners.

Furthermore, the use of rhetorical devices in Alexander's Feast serves to enhance the poem's central themes and message. The poem celebrates the power of music to move the emotions and inspire the soul, and the use of metaphor, allusion, and other rhetorical devices helps to convey this message with greater clarity and impact.

Overall, while Alexander's Feast may be considered more rhetorical than some of Dryden's other works, it is still a poetic masterpiece that showcases the author's skill and artistry. The use of rhetorical devices in the poem can be seen as appropriate and effective for the public occasion of St. Cecilia's Day, and serves to enhance the poem's central themes and message.