Who is the writer of the following lines taken from the poem An Essay on Man, which is dedicated to Henry St. John, Lord Bolingbroke?

"Awake, my St. John! leave all meaner things
To low ambition, and the pride of kings."

Correct option is B

Explanation:
The correct answer is Alexander Pope.

The lines quoted are from Alexander Pope’s famous philosophical poem An Essay on Man, which was published in 1733-1734. The poem is written in heroic couplets and addresses various themes related to human nature, society, and the universe. It was dedicated to Henry St. John, Lord Bolingbroke, a prominent English politician and philosopher, who influenced Pope’s ideas in the poem.

Information Booster:
An Essay on Man is a philosophical poem divided into four epistles.

The poem presents Pope's views on the human condition, the problem of evil, and the order of the universe.

Written in heroic couplets (pairs of rhymed lines in iambic pentameter).

Themes of An Essay on Man:
-The nature of humanity: Pope argues that humankind is part of a larger, divinely ordered scheme.
-Philosophical optimism: The idea that all things are for the best in the best of all possible worlds.
-Pride and humility: The opening lines reflect Pope’s advice to his friend Bolingbroke to rise above petty ambitions and live nobly.

Famous Lines from An Essay on Man:
"Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of mankind is Man."
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

Pope's poem reflects Enlightenment ideals, particularly in its rational approach to understanding human nature and its optimism regarding the divine order.
It influenced philosophers and thinkers, such as Voltaire, who later used it as a satirical backdrop in his novel Candide.

Additional Knowledge:
Samuel Richardson  – Known for writing novels such as Pamela and Clarissa.
Samuel Johnson – Known for his dictionary and essays.
Thomas Paine  – Known for his political writings, such as Common Sense and The Rights of Man.