"The Rape of Lock" by Alexander Pope is the most perfect example of mock-epic genre. ... The Rape of the Lock was written because of a brawl between two Roman Catholic families, the Fermors, and the Petres caused by an irrelevant incident: (when the Baron cuts off a lock of Belinda's hair). ... Pope describes scissors as the weapon which is another type of mock-epic. ... The lock disappears into the sky and becomes a star. ... Pope sees the society as a struggle of a man's mind and heart; he wants to show and to prove that hypothesis and bring it to the light. ...

• Word Count: 775
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Pope and Swift lived very different lives. ... Alexander Pope was a very well mannered, well-educated, subtle man. ... The criticism of Pope's satirical work was always very clear and in good taste. In The Rape of the Lock, Pope did not come out straight out and criticize the two families for blowing the situation out of proportion. ... The Rape of the Lock shows why most everyone had the utmost respect for Alexander Pope. ...

• Word Count: 392
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School