Horace’s treatise is practical and advisory; it teaches poets how to write well within a tradition, not how to detach from it. His main concerns include:
1. Moral and social purpose of poetry
- Horace famously argues poetry should “delight and instruct” (dulce et utile).
This directly supports option 2, so it is a focus.
2. Role of the audience
- He stresses that poetry must suit its audience’s expectations and tastes.
- A poet should consider how a work will be received.
This makes option 3 clearly a focus.
3. Literary tradition and historical awareness
- Horace frequently refers to Greek models, genre conventions, and appropriateness (decorum).
- He also discusses how language evolves and how genres have histories.
So option 4 is also a focus.
Option 1 is NOT a focus: “The detachment of a writer to his work, tradition, and custom.”
This idea is actually opposite to Horace’s thinking:
- Horace does not advocate detachment.
Instead, he insists on:
- Respect for tradition
- Awareness of rules and conventions
- Careful craftsmanship and revision
- He encourages poets to learn from predecessors, not separate themselves from them.
In short, Horace promotes engagement with tradition, not independence from it.
Year-wise PYQs
