English Literature / Unit 11 ENL 1009 short lesson, about 20 seconds
An Essay on Man
Captions available
The idea
An Essay on Man, in four epistles of seventeen thirty-three and thirty-four, aims to "vindicate the ways of God to man," echoing Milton. It places humanity on the "Vast chain of being" and concludes, "One truth is clear, whatever is, is right."
In practice
The Great Chain of Being; whatever is, is right.
Where people slip
The poem's optimism is philosophical, not cheerful.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
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