How did Alexander Pope use heroic couplets differently in satire and in emotional poems?

Alexander Pope, a master of the heroic couplet, adapted this 10-syllable iambic pentameter form to suit the specific tone and purpose of his writing.1

In his satirical works, Pope often utilized the couplet to create sharp, epigrammatic effects or to mirror the chaos of his subjects. For instance, in An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, he employed broken rhythms to convey domestic irritation, while in An Essay on Criticism, he used the meter to create onomatopoeic effects, where the "sound must seem an Echo to the sense"—using rough, labored lines to describe heavy actions and smooth, flowing lines to describe gentle ones.12

In his emotional or pathetic poems, such as "Verses to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady," Pope adapted the same meter to achieve a sense of pathos and elevated, noble declamation. Rather than the witty, rapid-fire delivery found in his satires, he used the couplet to sustain a more somber, lyrical, or tender tone, demonstrating the versatility of the form to capture both the sharp sting of ridicule and the depth of human grief.13