Abstract: James McAuley is a well-known figure in Australian poetry and literary criticism.McAuley's early poems are imbued with modernist features, especially Ern Malley Hoax which made him famous overnight.However, it is his neoclassical poetry and literary criticism that establish his poetic reputation.McAuley values traditional religion and metaphysics, acclaims artistic works of beauty and utility and prefers neoclassical poetry to prose.McAuley's appeal for neoclassicism exerts great influence on the development of Australian literature.