Alexader Pope’s A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing is a poem about youthful exuberance and aged wisdom. The poem seems to suggest that a small amount of education is dangerous and that to not deeply drink from the fountain of knowledge will cause intoxication. Lines one through four are a very interesting study. “A little learning is a dangerous thing;/Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring;/There shallow draughts intoxicate the brian,/And drinking largely sobers us again.” (Pope, 1709) Pope is speaking of the fire that having only a portion of the available information may cause. For example, a person reads an article and gains some information regarding a situation. The person is angry and rages around town about the information …show more content…
As a result, much of the education that Pope received, he received through his own pursuits after having been taught to read by his aunt. This poem being one of his earlier works, perhaps it was the search for knowledge which led Pope to pen A Little Learining. When the work is examined in this context, it is possible to read some of Pope’s frustrations at the early limitations placed on his education. The line, “New distant scenes of endless science rise” (Pope, 1709), could refer to the fact that Pope was striving to learn new things and while it was exciting to chase the new knowledge, it was difficult and exhausting. By being able to glimpse, by reading a little, a much more vast world of knowledge, frustration may have taken root, and by the end of the poem, Pope’s youthful exuberance for learning has been quelled somewhat by the obvious fact that he would never be able to learn everything, evidenced by his assertion that after having obtained the knowledge that was desperatley sought, “But those attained, we tremble to survey/The growing labours of the lengthened way;/The increasing prospect tires our wandering eyes,/Hill peep o’er hills, and Alps on Alps arise!” (Pope, 1709) It is in these lines where Pope shows the audience that no matter how much one learns, there is a vast amount of information that they will never know. It is impossible to attempt to discover how a formal …show more content…
This poem fits within the scope of the period due to its mention of arts and sciences. Its focus on those things which are measuarable and seen rather than the Romantic period that it followed. Pope, not only turned away from his Catholic upbringing but identified with those around him who believed that if something existed, then it was supposed to exist, without much faith that God had much to do with any of it. Knowing that Pope’s beliefs aligned with those writing during the Age of Reason and was focused on science rather than religion and arts more than the upper echelons of society makes the work clearer in its focus. Pope put his belief in those things that he could see, feel and experince rather than in something that was potentially hidden from his view. His loss of faith could be a result of the struggles that he went through when he was younger, simply by being associated with a certain religion. It could also be argued that by being born sickly, never reaching a normal height, having a twisted spine and other maladies which haunted him could have angered him at God, and he hoped that science could potentially provide him with some relief for some of his
In the gothic novel Frankenstein, humans have a bottomless, motivating, but often dangerous thirst for knowledge. This idea was clearly illustrated throughout the novel by Mary Shelley. The three main characters in the novel shared the thirst for knowledge that later lead to their downfall. In the novel knowledge is a huge theme that led to atrocious life to anyone that tried to gain it. Knowledge is hazardous; therefore, I support Dr. Frankenstein’s warning about knowledge being dangerous and that knowledge shouldn’t be gained.
The author turn to books in order to attract girl. After realizing at thirteen year old that he did not have the standard of the type of boys girls was seduced by. Richler did not let his lack of self-esteem and confidence depress him instead he used the strength of reading he had to develop a character to draw attention to himself. Since he was not tall like a basketball player, he find loophole in reading book he was good at.
From this experience, I felt that the Pope was an exemplification of the closest human being to God. Everything he said gave me the same feeling that I get when I read the bible, except this happened in reality instead of my imagination while reading the bible, which magnifies the intensity for my love of God even more.
...cided to condemn Galileo’s work. While it does not discredit God’s power or the Bible, the overall tone of the scientist’s letter is quite sarcastic towards the clergy. While defending his first argument, Galileo appears to undermine the intellectual capabilities of his opponents. He implies that those who interpret the Holy Writ word for word belong to the “common people” whom he describes as “rude and unlearned”, and that other “wise expositors” should be the ones who search for the true meaning of the Bible. Galileo makes a similar implication while presenting his second argument, when he writes that the purpose of the Holy Scriptures is “infinitely beyond the comprehension of the common people”. The Catholic Church likely viewed these claims as an attempt to weaken its authority, which would explain why Galileo’s discoveries were condemned for nearly 300 years.
In the poem, Boniface is not only a cleric to be condemned. Hell is full of them; Celestine is among the neutrals despite his holiness.Most of the early commentators agree on this identification-not only because he rejected God’s will but also presumably because in resigning from the papacy, denying his responsibility.He left the door open for Boniface and his corruption.The circle of greed filled with popes and cardinals, whose guards shouts “Pape Satan”, a phrase that suggests to an early commentator bishop calling his pope Satan.A Pope, as well as a cardinal, appears in the circle of heresy: Simony is dominated by popes, hypocrisy by monks or friars. There is probably an allegorical reference to the church in the Suicide Pier Della Vigna (Canto X111), Whose name “Peter of the vineyard”, suggests a perverted image of St.Peter, the first pope, a martyr for the vineyard contemporary popes are laying waste.Pier was at the court of the emperor Fredrick.Federico, whose name ...
Pope chose to utilize the heroic couplet to trivialize this mock- epic “But when to mischief mortals bend their will, how soon they find it instruments of ill!” (3. 53-54). He also employs in many instances, historic allusions to give the poem a serious feel “Fear the just Gods, and think of Scylla's fate! chang'd to a bird, and sent to flit in air, she dearl...
Just as it is human nature to feel desire, it is also human nature to long for an understanding of Earth’s unanswerable questions. Prior to scientific discoveries, humans developed their own means of understanding- religion. Although religion originally served as a means to explain natural phenomenona as well as spiritual ones, as science began to answer those kinds of questions, religion evolved to explain what science could not. Questions about the meaning of life and the mortality of man were answered in various formats. Unfortunately, as it is human nature to desire knowledge, it is also human nature to physically see manifestations of this knowledge. By creating immutable answers to mutable questions, mankind accidentally created a paradox. In order to achieve the answers that men desired, they must have faith in them. Since faith and doubt go hand in hand, it is impossible to have one without the other. For some, doubt wins over and they refuse to be associated with anything spiritual. Yet others are willing to take a leap of faith and believe in the unknown, their rational minds clinging to the idea that this knowledge will perhaps grant them immortality. After all, it is only human nature to desire survival. Nevertheless, doubt often worms itself into their minds, often in times of intense emotional time periods, often brought on by the grief over losing a loved one. Since art is often a reflection of the human mind, many works of art mirror the artist’s most intense emotional experiences. An example of such a work is Sir Alfred Tennyson’s series of poems, entitled In Memoriam A.H.H. These poems follow Tennyson throughout a three year mourning period after the sudden death of his close friend, Arthur Henry H...
...eral chronicle of Dante’s life. This is not the case, as historical information proves, Dante led a full life separate from his love of Beatrice. This story instead serves as a description of the power that Love wields over the sensitive and romantic. Indeed, Love could wield this power over anyone He chooses, though he chooses only those with the poet’s soul, through which God can speak and tell humanity of the power of Love. God inspires those who are open to him, in a way that they can understand. In the case of Dante, God spoke to him through Love and produced a tale that will convey the same message to all those who are able to hear. Dante was not writing for those without a poet’s mind, a fact he makes clear throughout the text, and the reason for this is evident: they would simply not understand.
Our knowledge is a key to our success and happiness in our life to give us personal satisfaction. Knowledge is power but not always. Sometimes our self-awareness and growth as an individual gives us negative thoughts that make us want to go back to undo it. Everyone wants to unlearn a part in our life that brought us pain and problems. Good or bad experiences brought by true wisdom can be used for our self-acceptance, self-fulfillment and these experiences would make us stronger as we walk to the road of our so called “life”, but Douglas’s and my experience about knowledge confirmed his belief that “Knowledge is a curse”. Both of us felt frustrated and sad from learning knowledge.
Galileo’s struggle, and the struggle of his period in history, is with the challenge of truth. Rather, it is the challenfe of whether to accept the world as it has been portrayed for him or to attempt to understand the world around him in order to determine his own truth. How does Brect portray this challenge? The answer is quite emphatically one-sided. As galieo states, “The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom,but to set a limit to infinite error.”¹ Within this simple statement Brecht highlights the very nature of both sides of the struggle. Here Brecht recognizes two absolutely imperative themes. First science, and free thought by extension, cannot and will not immediately grant a total understanding of the world. Furthermore, the scientific process is a process ...
In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein creates a monster that brings chaos and deaths to Victor Frankenstein's family and friends for revenge. This is one example of how too much knowledge can be dangerous. In addition to Frankenstein, the classical novel, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde." exemplifies why too much knowledge can cause chaos. In the novel, Dr. Jekyll creates salt in his laboratory that changes his physical appearance. Thus makes an alter ego named Hyde who murders citizens of England for pleasure. This changes Dr. Jekyll since he keeps switching appearances until one day, he changes to Hyde permanently. These examples show that the misuse of knowledge is dangerous. From bringing misery to Frankenstein to changing into a murderous alter ego, humans cannot handle too much
So to say, knowledge can either make or break a person. It can act as a benefit, for power, or loss, for ignorance. “Do not take for granted what you know. Ask yourself how you know what you know; ask yourself whom it benefits, whom it hurts and why.” (Blackboard: Knowledge is Power)
St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy 1181. At the time of his birth, he was established as a sinner, meaning he did many things against God in his younger life. Francis grew up as one of several children; his parents names were Pietro and Pica Bernardone. His father Pietro, was a wealthy cloth merchant and he owned a farmland. His mother Pica, was a marvelous Frenchwoman. His parents social statuses indicate that Francis was very affluent growing up. When Francis was baptized, he obtained the name of Giovanni, which later on was changed Francesco by his father out of his affection towards France and because it is where his business had steered him when Francis was first born. When Francis was growing up, he was not a very studious child. Initially, Francis received elementary directives by the priests at St. George’s in Assisi then he learned more in the school of the Troubadours, who at the time were working towards improvements in Italy. Because he resisted learning, Francis’ literary education was limited. During Francis’s teenage years, he was very spoiled. Francis would lavish himself in outstanding foods, alcohols, and women; even when he was sick he had people come to take care of him. He was very adored and favored by many people so that is why no one tried to limit or teach him. At one point, Francis was known as ...
Blaise Pascal lived during a time when religion and science were clashing and challenging previous discoveries and ideas. Pascal lived from 1623 to 1662 due to his untimely death at the age of thirty nine. The scientific community grew enormously and Pascal was a great contributor to this growth. The growth in the scientific community is known as the Scientific Revolution. He lived in a time where an absolute monarch came into power, King Louis the XIV. Louis XIV was a believer in “one king, one law, and one faith” (Spielvogel, 2012). Pascal saw the destruction of protestant practices in France and the growth and acceptance of scientific discoveries. He used the scientific method to refine previous experiments that were thought to be logical but Pascal proved otherwise and eventually led to Pascal’s Law. He spent his life devoted to two loves: God and science. Within his book, “Pensees,” Pascal argues and shares his thoughts about God, science, and philosophy.
In the end, a story that appears to poke fun at the carefree lives of upper class women actually gives great appreciation to the subtle powers women hold over men. It could be argued that one of the most important powers of women is that of controlling men with their trivial problems and needs. Perhaps Pope was demonstrating women's skill in controlling men by simply playing the part of the vain shallow debutant. Whatever his intentions were it is clear that Alexander Pope did not in fact find the women of his time to be completely powerless, instead they were the driving forces of the household and of society.