GENRE CRITICISM- Ode on Solitude by Alexander Pope

Ode on Solitude

I

How happy he, who free from care 

The rage of courts, and noise of towns; 

Contented breathes his native air, 

In his own grounds. 

II. 

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread, 

Whose flocks supply him with attire, 

Whose trees in summer yield him shade, 

In winter fire. 

III. 
Blest! who can unconcern'dly find 
Hours, days, and years slide swift away, 
In health of body, peace of mind, 
Quiet by day, 

IV. 
Sound sleep by night; study and ease 
Together mix'd; sweet recreation, 
And innocence, which most does please, 
With meditation. 

V. 
Thus let me live, unheard, unknown; 
Thus unlamented let me die; 
Steal from the world, and not a stone 
Tell where I lie

The Theory:

              Genre criticism is a type of literary criticism in which the work of literature is analyzed to see where it fits in terms of its genre instead of viewing it as a totally independent work. According to the genre criticism, works should be interpreted based on the characteristics of the genre under which they fall and on how they fit or break the conventions of that genre.

The Criticism:

                 Ode on Solitude is a poem that uses a third person point of view. In terms of poetry the parameter used are five quatrain stanzas with a rhyme scheme of a.b.a.b. The poem doesn't use many official poetic or literary devices and only use fair amount of repetition and a little alliteration. It is a really straight forward poem celebrating a quiet life. Satisfaction and contentment run as the central theme.