Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry (1700) and the Essay on Heroic Poetry (second edition, 1697)

"Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry" by Samuel Wesley is a poetic exploration from the early 1700s that considers what makes good poetry. It looks closely at how creativity, being a good person, and what people expect all connect. Wesley seems really interested in how art and morals meet, talking about religious belief and what a poet's job is in the world. He starts by explaining why he's writing, wanting to be part of what's popular in writing but also wanting to show that religion and being good are important in poetry. Wesley talks right to the reader, showing a writing style that mixes poetry with thinking. Then, he starts talking about "Genius," calling it the special inspiration you need from God to make real poetry. By looking at this idea, Wesley gets ready to discuss all the things that make poetry good, what poets should think about, and what people want from them, asking readers to think about what poetry is and how it affects society.