The Rape of the Lockby Alexander Pope

About Alexander Pope

※Born in a Catholic family

Suffered from prejudices

Educated in Twyford

About Alexander Pope

※Moved to Binfield in 1700

Self-taught: “did nothing but read and write”

Suffered from ill health: tuberculosis, asthma, and headaches

About Alexander Pope※Moved to Binfield

in 1700

Humpbacked and deformed

About 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)

A funny battle between 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 :BaronMiss Arabella Fermor: Belinda

About Alexander Pope

◎Background: John Caryll’s suggestion to “pour poetic oils on these troubled waters” or

Hope that “a little laughter might serve to soothe ruffled tempers.”

◎ Pope’s purpose: 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

※Published The Dunciad in 1728

Became professional satirist

“Sleepless themselves to give their readers sleep”

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 day’s social activities

Canto 2The travel on the Thames riverThe prayer of the young adventurer BaronThe 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

Canto 3

The game of cards—ombre

The rape of the lock

Canto 4Belinda’s Ill-Natured mood and

Affection after the loss of the lockUmbriel, the earthy gnome,

descends to the Cave of SpleenThalestris’ speech rouses the rage

of BelindaSir Plume bids in vain the payment

of the lock

Canto 5

Clarissa’s speech

The battle of belles and beaux

The lock rises to the heaven and becomes a star

Writing Style

Epic

Mock epic

Structure

Epic, the Characteristics

A long narrative poem Elevated, grand styleGreat heroes and heroinesThe setting is vast in geographical rangeSupernatural power

Epic ConventionsThe 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.

Mock EpicA 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.

Epic/ Mock EpicTraditional

EpicThe Rape of the

LockInvoke 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

“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?

The Epic Question

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).

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).

StructureHeroic couplet

Rhymed in every two lines.

Iambic pentameter Ten syllables in each line

Alternate with stressed and unstressed syllables

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)

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