SOURCE: "The Major Impact of a Minor Poet," in Matthew Prior, Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1986, pp. 119-34.

In the following essay, Rippy summarizes Prior's contributions to British literature and describes his influence on Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, and other writers.

This study began by asking the question raised by Prior's impressive monument in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey: in what sense may a so-called minor poet have made a major contribution to literature? Matthew Prior's contribution to British literature was a major one in at least four senses.

First, Prior produced a respectable body of literary work, in prose and verse, including effective and influential works in a number of genres: serious and mocking full-length philosophical poems, imitations of classical sources, a long amorous dialogue, tales, vers de societe, epigrams, epitaphs, lyrics, songs. A number of his shorter lyrics, mixing laughter and tears, are still often...