The Rape of the Lock
Alexander Pope
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
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
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)
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
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

Poetic Form, Figures of Speech, and
Verse

The Rape of the Lock is written in heroic couplets (Chaucer’s poetic form)


The main figure of speech is hyperbole


Pairs of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter
Pope exaggerates for ridicule and humor
Other figures of speech include: personification, anaphora, alliteration, and
extended similes, antithesis
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.
A Few Allusions to Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

The Rape of the Lock

Satan whispers a dream in
Eve’s ear

Ariel whispers to Belinda about
pride and vanity

Eve fixates on her image in a
pool of water

Belinda worships her own
reflection in a mirror

Satan suffers in a lake of
burning sulfur

Ariel threatens the sylphs with
burning chocolate
Epic, the Characteristics
A
long narrative poem
 Elevated,
 Great
grand style
heroes and heroines
 The
setting is vast in
geographical range
 Supernatural
power
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.
Epic/ Mock Epic
Traditional Epic
The Rape of the Lock
“ Say what strange
Invoke the aid of
motive, Goddess!
the muse: Calliope
Could compel”
Begin with in
No
medias res
Spirits (Sylphs,
Gods are involved Gnomes, Nymphs…)
are involved
Structure

Heroic couplet
Rhymed in every two lines.

Iambic pentameter
Ten syllables in each line
Alternate with stressed and unstressed syllables
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
Summary
Canto 1

Belinda awakes from sleeping

The dream of Belinda

Belinda prepares for the day’s social activities
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
Canto 3
 The
game of cards—ombre
 The
rape of the lock
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
Canto 5

Clarissa’s speech

The battle of belles and beaux

The lock rises to the heaven and becomes a star
Thankyou