Dryden and Pope are said to be 'the classics of our prose'. Do you agree? Discuss. ( MEG 102 ) ( THE AGE OF DRYDEN )

John Dryden and Alexander Pope are two of the most prominent poets of the late 17th and early 18th centuries in England. While they are primarily known for their contributions to English poetry, they were also accomplished prose writers, and their works are often considered classics of English prose.

Dryden and Pope were both known for their clarity, precision, and elegance of expression, which are qualities that are highly valued in English prose. Their prose works, which included critical essays, translations, and letters, were marked by their use of rhetorical devices, such as antithesis, parallelism, and allusion, as well as their mastery of syntax and grammar.

Dryden's prose works, which included his critical essays and prefaces to his plays, were notable for their clarity and directness. He was a master of the English language and was able to express complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner. His critical essays, in particular, were influential in shaping the literary tastes and standards of his time.

Pope, on the other hand, was known for his wit and irony, which he often used to great effect in his prose works. His essays, such as "An Essay on Criticism" and "An Essay on Man," were marked by their epigrammatic style and their ability to condense complex ideas into concise and memorable phrases.

Overall, it can be said that Dryden and Pope are classics of English prose due to their mastery of language, their use of rhetorical devices, and their ability to express complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner. While their prose works may not be as well-known as their poetry, they remain an important part of the English literary canon and continue to be studied and admired by readers and scholars alike.