What is The Davideis? What impression did Cowley want to give in the Davideis?
Davideis is an unfinished epic poem by Cowley. He started to write this poem with great inspiration. He wanted to write an epic like Aeneid. He wished to have twelve books on this poem but left it unfinished.
Read more:Write an essay on Addison’s prose style.
Cowley’s Davideis is a religious poem. He tried to follow the path of great poets. Unfortunately, he failed in his mission to be an epic writer. Besides, he had undergone many criticisms for it. Rymer has stated that Davideis is superior to the Jerusalem of Tasso. But Cowley is not free from pedantry. The way he showed pedantry up is not acceptable. Despite Rymer’s statement, Cowley’s poem sunk into oblivion. Cowley described heaven in his epic. He used some childish conceits. His wit and learning were misused. He had productivity but his selection of materials was wrong and inept.
He contributed a lot as a lyricist and prose writer, but he has been neglected too much these days.