Pope's Poems and Prose

What stylistic devices does the poet use to highlight this essence? Comment and exemplify.

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the sceptic side, With too much weakness for the stoic's pride, He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest; In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err; Alike in ignorance, his reason such, Whether he thinks too little, or too much: Chaos of thought and passion, all confus'd; Still by himself abus'd, or disabus'd; Created half to rise, and half to fall; Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl'd: The glory, jest, and riddle of the world! Alexander Pope

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Pope goes between extremes to comment on human nature: “darkly wise or rudely great,” “In doubt to deem himself a God or Beast,” “He hangs in between; in doubt to act or rest" This stylistic device reinforces the paradoxes that lies at the heart of human nature.

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