Analyzing Urban Space in Pope's Poetry

Abstract

This paper focuses on how Alexander Pope’s The Dunciad portrays cities as reminiscent of mountains. Pope represents London as consumed with dullness, losing its culture. At the same time, Pope’s London is similar to mountains in shape and uniqueness. Mountains evoke ideas of firmness and consistency, which are present within cities. Dulness functions in a similar manner to a rainstorm, while cities remain firm. The paper uses Hammond’s work on the idea of history and cultural heritage as situating the city within a historical sense. The relationship between the footnotes on the page and actual text also relate to the idea of stability embodied in mountains. Pope’s depiction of London forces readers to consider the similar resiliency and strength embodied by cities..