1. The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope

2. The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope
※ Expanded “The Rape of the Lock” in 1714
(five cantos)
A quarrel between two families
◎ Characters:
Lord Petre :Baron
Miss Arabella Fermor: Belinda

3. The Rape of the Lock by 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!

5. Canto 1 Belinda awakes from sleeping The dream of Belinda
Belinda prepares for the day’s social activities

7. 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

9. Canto 3
The game of cards—ombre
The rape of the lock

11. 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

13. Canto 5 Clarissa’s speech The battle of belles and beaux
The lock rises to the heaven and becomes a star

15. Writing Style
Epic
Mock epic
Structure

16. Epic, the Characteristics
A long narrative poem
Elevated, grand style
Great heroes and heroines
The setting is vast in geographical range
Supernatural power

17. 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.

18. Mock Epic
A 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.

19. Epic/ Mock Epic Traditional Epic The Rape of the Lock
Invoke 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

20. The Epic Question
“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?

21. 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).

22. 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).

23. Structure Heroic couplet Rhymed in every two lines. Iambic pentameter
Ten syllables in each line
Alternate with stressed and unstressed syllables

24. 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)

25. 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