Absalom and Achitophel: A Map of the Poem

As I type this, a couple of excellent paraphrases have already appeared in response to the blog post below. Nice work!

To help you make your way through this initial reading of the poem, here's a breakdown of the various sections of the poem. This is just meant as an aid to reading--no response on the blog is required!

l. 1 – 149: Sets up and explains the background for the conflict conveyed in the poem.
l. 150 - 229: Describes Achitophel
l. 230 – 302: Achitophel’s first address to Absalom (a.k.a. Absolon)
l. 303 – 314: Reactions to Achitophel’s address (the narrator’s and Absalom’s)
l. 315 – 372: Absalom’s reply to Achitophel
l. 373 – 476: Achitophel’s second address to Absalom
l. 477 – 543: The outcome of the conversation between Achitophel and Absalom
l. 544 – 681: Descriptive list of David’s many enemies.
l. 682 – 722: Absalom greets the crowd and gives a speech.
l. 723 – 752: The reaction to Absalom
l. 753 – 810: The narrator’s commentary on the political issues at stake in the story/
l. 811 – 913: Descriptive list of David’s many friends.
l. 914 – 938: David’s friends react to the activities of Absalom and Achitophel.
l. 939 – 1031: David’s speech and the poem’s conclusion.

Do jot down any questions that arise as you read so you can ask them in class on Monday.


(that's our author, John Dryden)