My favorite detail of that whole story is that that dog's mother, Pope's own dog, was named "Bounce." I halfway regret not naming my current dog "Bounce." It would have fit her.
Thanks for such an excellent explanation/discussion of the epigram, Jody. I'm familiar with epigrams, of course, have assigned a few in classes, but have never really delved into what they are and how they work. I really like "Dying Speech" -- especially as I am getting older and hoping to look back with at least some equanimity on what has been my life.
Yes the King’s dog at Kew is very famous.
And very wonderfully illustrated by Wallace Tripp in A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up.
My favorite detail of that whole story is that that dog's mother, Pope's own dog, was named "Bounce." I halfway regret not naming my current dog "Bounce." It would have fit her.
Prince's
Thanks for such an excellent explanation/discussion of the epigram, Jody. I'm familiar with epigrams, of course, have assigned a few in classes, but have never really delved into what they are and how they work. I really like "Dying Speech" -- especially as I am getting older and hoping to look back with at least some equanimity on what has been my life.
Must the Epigram have four lines? These poems call to mind C H Sisson: Here lies a civil servant / He was Civil to none / and a servant to the devil!
No. Ancient Greek had one-line epigrams. English has many 2-lines, as in the Pope dog-collar quip I quoted. JV. Cunningham has many 2 and 4.