Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 18 AIL 1705 short lesson, about 20 seconds
"A Little Learning Is a Dangerous Thing"
Captions available
The idea
Pope writes that a little learning is a dangerous thing, and that one should drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring. Two lines, one complete argument, and a classical allusion assumed rather than explained. The couplet does all of it at once.
In practice
One complete argument in two lines.
Where people slip
The allusion is assumed.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it