Chapter 3, The Rise of the English Essay- Page 113-211 Summary and Analysis

Chapter three begins with a look at Abraham Cowley. He is a supporter of the Royalists and studies at Cambridge. Abraham Cowley is considered to be one of the earliest masters of a clear and easy English prose style. Cowley's style reflects the common man who talks about things that he himself knows about and does not try to stretch the reader's comprehension of the subject. Cowley's essay "Of Greatness" looks at the role a person plays in the world and how much it takes to make a person feel that they are great. Cowley says that he is in love with littleness and names little things that he enjoys. Cowley also says that he does not want to be in love again because it...