How did Alexander Pope adapt Homer’s epics for 18th-century English readers?

Alexander Pope adapted the epics of Homer—the Iliad and the Odyssey—for 18th-century English readers by prioritizing the creation of a heroic poem that aligned with the aesthetic and moral values of his own time rather than strictly adhering to the original Greek text.1

Rather than focusing on literal accuracy, Pope aimed to present these works as he believed Homer would have written them had he lived in early 18th-century England. He crafted his translations to possess Virgilian dignity, moral purpose, and pictorial splendor, utilizing his mastery of the 10-syllable iambic pentameter rhyming couplet to provide a rapid, engaging narrative flow. This approach proved highly successful, earning him significant financial independence and widespread contemporary acclaim across Europe.21