Question

Critical summary of the poem know then thyself

Answer 1

Here is a section-by-section summary of the poem :

Section I states that man should not pray to God rather study himself, especially about himself, about his nature, powers, limits and many more.

Section II shows that man has two principles viz. are self-love and reason.

Self-love is predominant of the two, but the final goal is the same.

Section III describes the modes of self-love and their function.

Men get the virtue and motivation from the ruling passion..

As per Section IV, vice and virtue are  totalized man’s nature and that the two, often mix.

Section V narrates the bad effects of evils of vice and presents how easily man is drawn to it. Section VI narrates that man’s passions and imperfections are simply designed to suit divine purposes.