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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