The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope

About Alexander Pope

Born in a Catholic family

Suffered from prejudices Due to his appearance and his religion

About Alexander Pope

Self-taught: did nothing but read and write Suffered from ill health: tuberculosis, asthma, and headaches, stunted growth, hunchbacked and very short

Alexander Pope
Ill-tempered and very critical of most people and ideas

Humpbacked and deformed

Alexander Pope
Published An Essay on Criticism in 1711 First striking success as a poet

Made friends with Jonathan Swift and John Gay

About Alexander Pope

Published an early version of The Rape of the Lock in 1712 (two cantos)

About a funny battle between the sexes and follies of a young lady

About Alexander Pope

Expanded The Rape of the Lock in 1714 (five cantos)
A quarrel between two families

Characters:
Lord Petre :Baron Miss Arabella Fermor: Belinda

About Alexander Pope

Background: Based on a true story told to him by his friend Popes purpose (theme)
Do not worry about trivial things!

About Alexander Pope

Translated Iliad and Odyssey into English The first man to prove Literature can raise writers.

About Alexander Pope

Died on May 30, 1744

The Age of Pope ended

Summary

Canto 1
Belinda awakes from sleeping
The dream of Belinda Belinda prepares for the days social activities

Canto 3

The game of cardsombre (symbolic of epic battle) The rape of the lock (cutting off of a piece (curl) of Belindas
hair

Canto 4
Belindas Ill-Natured mood and Affection after the loss of the lock Umbriel, the earthy gnome, descends to the Cave of Spleen

Thalestris speech rouses the rage of Belinda

Sir Plume bids in vain the payment of the lock

Canto 5
Clarissas speech
The battle of belles and beaux The lock rises to the heaven and becomes a star

Writing Style
A real Epic long story with important ingredients -central hero, fantasy - creatures/monsters/great battle/female love interest/rape or lose of virtue of woman Rape of the Lock is a Mock epic have similar qualities but presented in humorous manner

Structure
Heroic couplet

Rhymed in every two lines.

Epic Conventions
The theme is usually the adventure of a hero and/or a war (great battle). Invocate the Muses aid. (Calliope) Ask epic question(s). Gods interference in human affairs.

Standard Epic Characteristics

A long narrative poem

Elevated, grand style

Great heroes and heroines

The setting is vast in geographical range Supernatural power (spirits/monsters/nymphs)

Mock Epic
A work designed to ridicule attitudes, style, or subject matter by handling either an elevated subject in a trivial manner or a low subject with mock dignity (Karl 30). Renders a trivial subject ridiculous by treating it with the elaborate (Karl 31). Compare small things with something great.

Traditional Epic comparison to Mock Epic

Traditional Epic

The Rape of the Lock

Say what strange Invoke the aid of motive, Goddess! the muse: Calliope Could compel (1. 7)

Gods are involved

Spirits (Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs) are involved

Mock Epic
Journey to the underworld The Cave of Spleen (ill nature of female hypochondriacs) (4. 1)

Sacrifice offering to gods Baron sacrifices his before an important war former love-token. (2.35) or journey

Mock Epic
Battle Clichs, frowns and angry glances, snuff and bodkin. So spoke the dame, (5. 35). The card game Ombre.
Rape of a lock of hair

Rape of the female chastity

The Epic Question

1 What dire offense from amorous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things,

Among the gods, who brought this quarrel on? (Iliad)

7 Say what strange motive, Goddess! Could compel A well-bred lord to assault a gentle belle? Oh, say what stranger cause, yet unexplored, Could make a gentle belle reject a lord? In tasks so bold can little men engage, And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage?

Homeric Similes
From Epic of Homer Similes suggests things are Like or as something else

Achilles, fast in battle as a lion.

Quick as her eyes (2. 10), Bright as the sun (2. 13),

Hera, whose Shrink his thin essence arms are white as like a rivaled flower (2. ivory. 132), And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace (3. 98).