The Rape of the LockAlisha Badie, Mirabelle Skipworth, Ravina Shah

Historical Background

-Enlightenment: sprawling intellectual, philosophical, cultural, and social movement that spread through Europe

-The search for truth through science, reasoning, and logic

-Satire was VERY common ● Used to ridicule the ideals of the Church● Questions public morals● Satirists used lots of exaggeration ● Heavy criticism

Many Enlightenment thinkers and satirists met at salons to spread their ideas

About the Author

Language & VocabularySeparated into five cantos

-Canto= one of the sections into which certain

long poems are divided.

Very neoclassical in its roots

Mock Epic causes heavy exaggeration

-Mock Epic= discrepancy between its

trivial subject matter.

-Ex. A cracked teacup becomes a major

catastrophe

Intrusion (n.) - an inappropriate or unwelcome addition

Languish (v.) - become weak; lose strength

Vernal (adj.) - of or relating to the spring; occurring in the spring

Transient (adj.) temporary; passing

What it’s About

It’s a mock-epic

❖ Belinda wakes up with a warning, but she still does her primping.

❖ She then goes to a wealthy socialite gathering.

❖ The Baron has decided that he will steal a lock of Belinda’s hair

❖ The Baron proceeds, after few tries, to cut off a lock of Belinda’s hair.

❖ A “sack of sighs” and a “flask of tears”❖ Clarissa tries to convince Belinda that this

situation is not a big deal.❖ A mock- heroic battle❖ The lock gets lost in the chaos.❖ “This lock, the Muse shall consecrate to

fame and ‘midst the stars inscribe Belinda’s name”(Canto 5 ln.57-58)

Characters

❖ Belinda

❖ The Baron

❖ Caryl

❖ Goddess

❖ Ariel

❖ Shock

Characters Continued

❖ Thalestris

Brillante+ =

+

+

= Momentilla

= Crispissa

❖ Clarissa❖ Sir Plume

Settings

❖ The Hampton Court Palace

❖ The Thames River (London 1700s)

❖ The Cave of Spleen

The Purpose

❖ Pope makes fun of women and their materialism.

❖ His use of satire is used against the vanity and social pretensions.

❖ The poem is used to make fun of a real instance.

❖ Attack on people’s instinct to elevate a situation.

❖ Different standpoints can be taken.(Ex: The keeping of chastity)

❖ He means to point out the over dramatic society.

❖ “Restore the lock!” She cries; and all around “Restore the lock!” the vaulted roofs rebound. Not fierce Othello in so loud a strain Roar’d for the handkerchief that caus’d his pain.”

❖ The poem takes on a satirical tone.

❖ It is very over dramatic.❖ At some points it is very serious

to emphasize the mock-heroic context.

Meaning & Tone

Video