Episode 325: Introduction to Alexander Pope and the Neo-Classical Poets

The Literary Life Podcast

Angelina Stanford

Arts, Books, Education

4.7 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2026

⏱️ 85 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today on The Literary Life podcast, Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks share an introduction to the Neo-Classical Poets, including Alexander Pope, and their poetry. First off, they establish a definition of the Neo-classical period both in terms of time and of culture. In addition, Angelina points out some ways in which the coming of the Enlightenment throws off ideals of the Medievals in favor of those of the Greeks and Romans. Another topic they highlight is the popularity of the satire in this period, as well as the prevelance of the printed word. After this general introduction to the period, Thomas shares a biographical sketch of Alexander Pope.

Join us back again here next week when we will discuss Pope's mock epic poem, "The Rape of the Lock."

You can check out all the latest offerings of mini-classes and webinars, including Jenn Roger's webinar on C. S. Lewis' The Pilgrim's Regress, at HouseofHumaneLetters.com.

For the full show notes for this episode, please visit our podcast website at https://theliterary.life/325.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is not just another book chat podcast.
0:21.6	Lifelong reader Cindy Rollins joins teachers Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks for an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well.
0:32.6	Explore the lost intellectual tradition and discover how to fully enter end to the great works of literature.
0:40.2	Learn what books mean while delighting in the sheer joy of imagination. Each week, we will rescue
0:47.1	story from the ivory tower and bring it to your couch, your kitchen, and your commute. The literary life is for everyone because in the
0:55.9	words of Stratford Caldecott, to be enchanted by story is to be granted a deeper insight into
1:02.2	reality. Join us for an ever-unfolding discussion of how stories will save the world.
1:09.7	This is the Literary Life Podcast.
1:13.6	Hello and welcome to the Literary Life podcast.
1:30.7	I'm Angelina Stanford, and here with me is my very own neoclassical poet, The Mysterious Mr. Banks.
1:37.7	I speak in numbers for the numbers came.
1:40.5	See? I do always think of you as, I think of myself as the romantic and you as the neoclassical person at H.H.L.
1:48.3	I think actually, I mean, I don't think any of us could have lived very comfortably in a past century because there's just too many modern conveniences we're used to.
1:58.0	But if I had to pick a past century to live in, I don't know, I might, I think
2:03.5	the 18th and I could get along in some ways.
2:05.6	Just think about that, because the 18th century is when you have the birth of the coffee house
2:10.7	culture, and they would just go over there and read the newspaper and talk to each other,
2:15.1	and write pamphlets and write poems. I was like, that is you.
2:18.4	You could do that.
2:19.7	Yeah, literature was sociable.
2:21.3	Literature was still sociable.
2:27.8	So if you haven't figured out, today's episode is going to be an introduction to the neoclassical period of poetry.
	...

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