The Rape of the Lock An Heroi-Comical Poem by Alexander Pope

A Presentation by Kerry O'Donnell Maria Shockman Emily Shultis

Alexander Pope: The Man Behind the Pen Born May 21st, 1688 in London, England Suffered illnesses as a child that deformed his body and alienated him from society Was not allowed to be educated in public schools due to his Catholicism Informally educated by family, friends of family, and priests By the age of 12, he was already well-read in the translated poetry of Greek, Latin, French, and Italian poets First publication was Pastorals, published in 1709, and it brought him instant fame Next publication Essay on Criticism as well-received as his first Gained a reputation for poetry, satire, and his translations of Homer Died in Twickenham, England May 30, 1744

England in Turmoil Pope grew up in a turbulent time in England's history: the Glorious Revolution Under the Protestant King and Queen William and Mary, Catholics were shunned Lock's Catholic family were forced to live and work ten miles outside of London As a Catholic, Pope was not allowed to attend public school As a result, Pope received an informal education from his family Pope taught himself by reading the works of classical authors, stoking his eagerness to read and write literature

The Rape of the Lock First published anonymously with only two cantos before Pope revised it, lengthened it to five cantos, and published it under his name in 1714 Mocks the dramatic style of the epic poems of antiquity Divided into five cantos The poem studies gender roles, high society, vanity, frivolity, and pride Pope based this poem on an actual event in which a nobleman, Lord Petre, cut a lock of hair from the beautiful Arabella Fermor; this transgression ignited a battle royale between the Petre and Fermor families. Pope was convinced to fictionalize this event to highlight the absurdity of the dispute. Features a woman of exquisite beauty, Belinda, who prizes her locks of hair Sylphs, mythical creatures that serve to mimic the Greek Gods, warn her in a dream that misfortune will befall her, though she ignores this warning While engaging in revelry and merriment, the Baron, who covets Belinda's beautiful hair, cuts off a lock to keep for himself. Belinda is enraged and tries fervently to get her lock of hair back, which sends the night into confusion and disarray. In the confusion, her hair is completely lost. There is somewhat of a happy ending, as Belinda's hair has risen up to the heavens to take its place among the stars.

Themes The frivolity of upper-class society The roles of men and women in this high society The importance high society places on personal pleasures and luxuries Vanity, the value of beauty The importance of having a good sense of humor about life's absurdities

The Rape of the Lock's relation to the epic poems of antiquity Pope implements a highly stylized form of poetry that echoes the grandeur of epic poems The poem features supernatural forces that guide the workings of Earth, much like the Greek Gods and Goddesses that guided the worlds of epic poems Inane activities like card games are treated as grand events that could parallel the grandiosity of an Epic battle.