Which of the following poems are written by Alexander Pope?

A. The Dunciad
B. Moral Essays
C. Grongar Hill
D. Cooper’s Hill
E. Absalom and Achitophel

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

The question asks which poems were authored by Alexander Pope, a leading poet of the Augustan era, renowned for his use of heroic couplets and satirical style.

A. The Dunciad – Written by Alexander Pope. This is a satirical mock-epic aimed at criticizing dullness and mediocrity in literature and society.
B. Moral Essays – Also authored by Pope. This is a series of philosophical poems exploring morality and human nature.
C. Grongar Hill – Written by John Dyer, not Pope.
D. Cooper’s Hill – Composed by John Denham, not Pope.
E. Absalom and Achitophel – Authored by John Dryden.

Thus, only A and B are written by Alexander Pope, making Option 3 the correct answer.
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Information Booster:

The Dunciad by Alexander Pope

Genre: Satirical, mock-epic poetry

First Published: 1728 (with later expanded versions)

Context: The poem ridicules contemporary writers, critics, and the general cultural decline Pope perceived.

The poem centers around the goddess Dulness and her influence over literature and society. Through allegory and satire, Pope attacks the mediocrity of his literary contemporaries and the rise of hack writers.

Moral Essays by Alexander Pope

Genre: Philosophical and didactic poetry

Published: Between 1731 and 1735

Context: These poems reflect Pope's neoclassical ideals and his concern with the moral state of humanity.

A collection of epistles, each addressed to a friend or patron, discussing themes such as virtue, vice, the use of riches, and the balance of human passions. Pope uses poetic elegance to question human behavior and ethical principles.

Additional Knowledge:

Grongar Hill – John Dyer

Genre: Pastoral poetry

Published: 1726

Celebrates the natural beauty of the Welsh countryside, blending scenic description with reflections on time and transience. Dyer was an early Romantic forerunner in English poetry.

Cooper’s Hill – John Denham

Genre: Topographical and political poetry

Published: 1642

A poem that observes the landscape from Cooper’s Hill and reflects on broader political issues of the English Civil War. It is one of the first attempts to blend landscape description with political and philosophical meditation.

Absalom and Achitophel – John Dryden

Genre: Political allegory, satirical poetry

Published: 1681

Uses the biblical story of Absalom's rebellion against King David to comment on the political turmoil in England, particularly the Exclusion Crisis. Dryden supports King Charles II and criticizes those who sought to exclude the king’s brother from succession.