1. The Rape of the Lock
Alexander Pope

2. Pope and His Times Pope suffered prejudices due to his appearance
Ill health, tuberculosis, asthma, headaches, stunted growth, hunchbacked
Many characterized Pope as ill-tempered, critical and judgmental

3. Pope and His Times
Pope was self-taught “did nothing but read and write”
Was friends with Swift and John Gay (famous poet)
By most accounts, Pope was a misogynist (so were most other men during the period)
During Popes time, many believed that women were only slightly human
Whether or not women had souls was a serious topic of conversation

4. Pope and His Times
During the 18th century, much traditional thinking was being challenged
Pope identified the poem as a: heroi-comical poem
Today known as a mock-epic (a form of satire)

5. Source of the Poem
Pope based the poem on real events between the noble Petre and Fermor families (a Petre family member cut a lock of hair from a Fermor lady)
Pope wrote the poem to satirize the absurdity and silliness of the feud that resulted from the event

6. Heroic and Mock Heroic Conventions
The fateful sea voyage
Invocation of the muse
Division of the poem into “books” or “cantos”
Descriptions of soldiers and preparations for battle
Descriptions of heroic deeds
Participation of deities and spirits in the action of the story

7. Heroic and Mock Heroic Conventions
Presentation of scenes from the underworld
High formal diction and language
Religious or spiritual rituals
Ascension of the dead hero into the heavens
Story begins in medias res
While extended similes in an epic elevate the story—in a mock epic they trivialize the elements of the story

8. Poetic Form, Figures of Speech, and Verse
The Rape of the Lock is written in heroic couplets (Chaucer’s poetic form)
Pairs of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter
The main figure of speech is hyperbole
Pope exaggerates for ridicule and humor
Other figures of speech include: personification, anaphora, alliteration, and extended similes, antithesis

9. Antithesis and Anaphora
Antithesis: Placing side by side, and in similar grammatical structures, strongly contrasting words, clauses sentences, or ideas
Ex: Accidentally on purpose. Agree to disagree.
Anaphora: The repetition of sequences of words at the beginning of neighboring clauses—lending emphasis
Ex: In time we will move. In time we will advance and in time we will prevail.

10. Question for Thought
Although mock-heroic poems are fun and humorous, they also serve as significant commentary on human behaviors, tendencies, flaws and more
What do you think is the central message of the story?

11. A Few Allusions to Paradise Lost
Satan whispers a dream in Eve’s ear
Eve fixates on her image in a pool of water
Satan suffers in a lake of burning sulfur
The Rape of the Lock
Ariel whispers to Belinda about pride and vanity
Belinda worships her own reflection in a mirror
Ariel threatens the sylphs with burning chocolate

12. Questions for Discussion
Select two mock-heroic elements from the poem and explain their significance
Find one example of irony in the poem and explain its purpose and significance
Discuss the distinctive elements of Pope’s writing style
Find two similes or metaphors and explain how they work well as mock-heroic elements

13. Summary

15. Canto 1 Belinda awakes from sleeping The dream of Belinda
Belinda prepares for the day’s social activities

17. Canto 2 The travel on the Thames river
The prayer of the young adventurer Baron
The Sylphs’ mission to “tend the Fair”—to protect Belinda
Brillante—the earrings
Chrispissa—the locks
Ariel—Shock, Belinda’s lapdog
Momentilla—the watch
fifty chosen Sylphs—the petticoat

19. Canto 3
The game of cards—ombre
The rape of the lock

21. Canto 4
Belinda’s 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

22. Canto 5 Clarissa’s speech The battle of belles and beaux
The lock rises to the heaven and becomes a star

24. Writing Style
Epic
Mock epic
Structure

25. Epic, the Characteristics
A long narrative poem
Elevated, grand style
Great heroes and heroines
The setting is vast in geographical range
Supernatural power

26. Epic Conventions
The theme is usually the adventure of a hero or a war.
Invocate the Muse’s aid. (Calliope)
Ask epic question(s).
Begin with in medias res.
Use epithets and similes.
Gods’ interference in human affairs.

27. 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.

28. Epic/ Mock Epic Traditional Epic The Rape of the Lock
Invoke the aid of the muse: Calliope
“ Say what strange motive, Goddess! Could compel” (1. 7)
Begin with in medias res No
Gods are involved
Spirits (Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs…) are involved

29. The Epic Question
“Among the gods, who brought this quarrel on?” (Iliad)
1 What dire offense from amorous causes springs,
What mighty contests rise from trivial things, …
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?

30. Homeric Simile “Achilles, fast in battle as a lion.”
“Hera, whose arms are white as ivory.”
“Quick as her eyes” (2. 10), “Bright as the sun” (2. 13),
“Shrink his thin essence like a riveled flower” (2. 132),
“And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace” (3. 98).

31. Homeric Epithet “man-killer Hector” “sharp-eyed Hermes”
“Bolt-hurling Zeus”
“Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her shone” (2. 5)
“The long-contended honours of her head” (4.140)
“Why round our coaches crowd the white-glov'd beaux?” (5. 13).

32. Structure Heroic couplet Rhymed in every two lines. Iambic pentameter
Ten syllables in each line
Alternate with stressed and unstressed syllables

33. Mock Epic Journey to the underworld
The Cave of Spleen (ill nature of female hypochondriacs) (4. 1)
Sacrifice offering to gods before an important war or journey
Baron sacrifices his former love-token. (2.35)

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