Absalom and Achitophel is a parable written in heroic couplets. ... He uses the Biblical story of David and his rebellious son, Absalom, as the biblical parallel to the political situation of that time. ... Just as the story in II Samuel 13-18 goes, Achitophel encourages Absalom to rebel against his father, David. Dryden does not follow the biblical account word for word; he notes that the biblical account ends with the death of Absalom, but that he hopes that the current situation will end peacefully. ... Archer writes: Partly, Absalom and Achitophel is some sort of inward search. ...

• Word Count: 1309
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Answer Dryden in the preface to Absalom and Achitophel says, those who wrongly "imagine I have done my Worst, may be Convinc'd at their own Cost, that I can write Severely, with more ease, than I can Gently....

• Word Count: 2125
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School