Identify the Augustan writer who is known for his successful translation of Homeric poems into heroic couplets.

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The correct answer is Alexander Pope.

Alexander Pope, one of the most influential Augustan poets, is famous for his translation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey into heroic couplets. His translation of The Iliad (1715–1720) was highly regarded for its poetic elegance, precision, and rhythmic flow, making Greek epic poetry accessible to English readers. Later, he translated The Odyssey (1725–1726), completing the work with the assistance of Elijah Fenton and William Broome.

Pope’s translations were notable for:

• Preserving the grandeur and style of Homer’s original works.
  
• Using heroic couplets (rhymed pairs of iambic pentameter lines) to maintain a formal, rhythmic structure.
  
• Becoming the standard English translation of Homer for generations.
  
• His Iliad translation was not just a literary achievement but also a financial success, allowing Pope to gain independence as a professional writer.
  

Information Booster:

What Are Heroic Couplets?

A pair of rhymed lines in iambic pentameter, commonly used in neoclassical poetry.
Example from Pope’s The Iliad:
"Achilles’ wrath, to Greece the direful spring / Of woes unnumber’d, heavenly goddess, sing!"

Pope’s Importance in Augustan Literature

• Master of satirical poetry (The Rape of the Lock, The Dunciad).
  
• Strong advocate of classical ideals, harmony, and order in poetry.
  

Pope’s Other Major Works

• The Rape of the Lock – A mock-epic satirizing aristocratic vanity.
  
• An Essay on Criticism – Discusses rules of good poetry and criticism.
  
• The Dunciad – A biting satire on dull writers and declining literary standards.
  

Additional Knowledge:

Samuel Johnson  – A later neoclassical writer, known for A Dictionary of the English Language.

John Gay  – A poet and dramatist famous for The Beggar’s Opera.

Voltaire  – A French Enlightenment writer.