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FACULTY: Ms. FOUZIA MANSOOR

M.A ENGLISH LITERATURE-12015 KIU SKD CAMPUS

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"The Rape of the Lock"A Mock Epic Poem.

A Brief Presentation.

Prepared by : Students of KIU Skardu Campus M.A English literature-1 2015 (Group-1)

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Group members:

1. Inayatullah sheikh2. Irshad Hussain 3. Kaneez Fatima4. Hina Nawaz5. Rabia seemi6. Haseena

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Contents:

Definition of ‘Epic’Definition of ‘Mock Epic’Comparison between Epic and Mock EpicFeatures of Epic in" The Rape of the Lock”Conclusion

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1EPIC and its Characteristics

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Epic: “A long narrative poem about the actions of a great person.”Or

“A long narrative poem which deals in a grand diction with sublime themes and tells heroic deeds.”

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Epic Vs Mock Epic:

Similarities:

Epic Mock Epic1.Starts with introducing its theme,2.Afterwards the poet invokes God for aid,3.Its diction is grand,4.It has supernatural machinery,5.Journey on water (Voyage),6.Long speeches,

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MOCK EPICComparison between epic and

mock epic

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Mock Epic: “It is a parody of an epic.” Or

“A long narrative poem which deals in a grand diction with trivial/ordinary themes and produces laughter.”

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Dissimilarities:

Epic Mock Epic1. It consist of several

volumes.Much shorter than true epics.

2. Serious, Real mock, parody3. Its theme is sublime. Its theme is trivial.4. Hero & characters are

of upper class.They are common people.

5. It has epic similes. It has mock-epic similes.

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Features of ‘Epic & Mock Epic' in

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1) Begins with theme: As John Milton starts “Paradise Lost” by stating its

sublime theme very firstly.

o “Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, …………….. ……………….., till one Greater Man Restore us, and the blissful seat.”

Alexander pope too, commence with the subject matter of his poem in the very first lines.

“What dire offence from amorous causes springs,1 What mighty contests rise from trivial things,2”

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2) Invocation to Muse: As Edmund Spenser craves the aid of HolyMuse into “The Faerie Queen”.

“Help then, O Holy Virgin! Chief of nine, Thy weaker novice……….O help thou my weak wit, and sharpen my dull tongue.”

Pope also invokes the holy spirit. “I sing-this verse to Caryll, Muse! Is due:3 This , ev’n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:4”.

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3. Hero’s physique & weapons: In ‘Paradise Lost’ Satan and in ‘The Faerie Queen’

the Red Cross Knight clad armours and put weapons like; heavy shields, swords and spears upon their strong and mighty stature,

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In ‘The Rape of the Lock’ lean Belinda decks herself with combs, hairpins, powders and different sort of ornaments.

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4. Parody between lines:

“The powers gave eat, and grantedhalf his prayer,The rest the winds dispersed in empty air.”

Which is parody of following lines of the Aeneid:

“Apollo heard, and granting half his pray’r, Shuffled in winds the rest, and toss’d in empty air.”

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5. Voyage:

Epic has an unsafe voyage. But here in this poem Belinda takes a comfortable journey on water without any tension and peril. She travels up the Thames in a boat to join Hampton Court to play cards embellishing her attractively.  

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6. Underworld Journey:

To take an underworld journey is also important event. Like supernatural beings in classicalepics, a gnome descends to the underworld and fetches a bag of sighs and a bottleof tears from Spleen, in order to please andcomfort poor Belinda.

“Repair’d to search the gloomy cave of Spleen.Swifts on his sooty pinions flits the gnome"

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7. Episodes: An epic poem must contain episodes also. Here

Pope has introduced the episodes of Omber(a game of cards) which suggests the mighty battle and the cards imply the soldiers described in great detail.

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8. Conflicts:

Then there is the battle between the lords and ladies just like the battles in epic poetry. But in true mock-heroic style this battle is fought with fansand snuff instead of with swords and spears.   Just the opposite to the mighty battles that we

find in in “The Faerie Queene” Red Cross Knight’s battle with the monster Error

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9. Sacrifice:

It is also an epic tradition to sacrifice to the gods before battle.

Baron prays to the gods and kindles a fire with trophies and the love letters of his former beloved then heaves passionate sighs three times to add fuel to the fire. In such a way he sacrifices all his valuables in order to receive the lock of Belinda.

“And all the trophies of his former loves; with tender billet-doux he lights the pyre, and breath three times amorous to rise the fire”,

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10.Similes:

Like Homer Spenser and Milton Pope uses simileRidiculously. Example, In canto-2 he compares Belinda's eyes a radiant

lightening sun. In some other places Belinda is ironically

compared with ‘Queen Dido’ and ‘Helen’. The funniest of all is the comparison between

Belinda’s gown/skirt with the mighty shield of epic heroes.

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11. Supernatural Machinery:

In classical epics God, gods and goddesses were the supernatural elements but here this part is performed by tiny spirits like; sylphs, nymphs, gnomes, and salamanders etc.

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12.Ending of epic:

Epic has a happy end for their protagonist and disappointment and distress for antagonist, Pope, wisely likewise concludes the poem with a mocking comfort to Belinda that:

"This lock, the Muse shall consecrate to fame,And mid'st the stars inscribe Belinda's name!"

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“From back discussion, it becomes clear that Pope follows the epic conventions of late bards very minutely but for trivial theme to make the petty things more ridiculous. He employs the mock-heroic form, not to mock the epic form, but to show the triviality of mean things by contrasting them with great things. This is the true mock-heroic style. So it can be undoubtedly said that the poem “The Rape of the Lock” is a successful mock-epic.”

Conclusion: