Who said of the blank verse, quoting an unnamed critic, that it is “…verse only to the eye,” adding further that it “has neither the easiness of prose, nor the melody of numbers”?

Correct option is D

Explanation:
Samuel Johnson, in his critique of blank verse, quoted an unnamed critic describing it as “verse only to the eye,” highlighting his preference for rhymed verse. He further elaborated that blank verse lacked the structured melody of poetic numbers and the straightforwardness of prose. Johnson, known for his neoclassical leanings, often emphasized formal structure and harmony in poetry.
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Information Booster:
Blank Verse:
It is unrhymed iambic pentameter, commonly used in English drama and epic poetry.
It allows greater flexibility and natural speech patterns, making it a favorite for Shakespeare and Milton.
Johnson’s View:
Johnson, a staunch advocate of neoclassical principles, criticized blank verse for its lack of rhyme, which he deemed essential for poetic harmony.
His views reflect the 18th-century preference for order, regularity, and form in literature.
Prominent Users of Blank Verse:
William Shakespeare: Used blank verse extensively in his plays.
John Milton: His epic Paradise Lost is a masterpiece of blank verse.
Neoclassicism vs. Romanticism:
While Johnson criticized blank verse, Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge celebrated its freedom and flexibility.

Additional Knowledge:
John Dryden: Known for heroic couplets and satirical works like Absalom and Achitophel.
Alexander Pope: A neoclassical poet famous for The Rape of the Lock and An Essay on Criticism.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A Romantic poet who admired blank verse, as seen in his poem Frost at Midnight.