In classical heroic literature the gods were intimately involved in the fate of heroes, something which Pope has carried off to great effect. ... We see them also in their role as followers, Belinda's army, just as an epic hero would have his faithful servants we see how "To fifty chosen sylphs, of special note, / We trust the important charge, the petticoat" . Again Pope's use of bathos here deflates the epic style, we expect an elevated example here such as the arming of an epic hero before battle, and rather we are presented with something trivial, a further satirical comment on ...

• Word Count: 2068
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate