Yet by exposing these foibles "through characteristics of the sylphs rather than of Belinda herself" Pope is fulfilling the workings of satire, showing us a society obsessed with superficial splendour, class and social status. ... When we read this poem in its entirety, it seems clear that whilst the original purpose of the poem may hold true, Pope certainly viewed his poem as an "adventitious vehicle for satire" . ... It is interesting that one of the truly outstanding satirical poems of the Augustan age has also been described as the "generic model" for the Augustan mock epic. As the term ...

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

As the name indicates, the Mock-Epic is a literary form that ridicules the "classical epics." It does so by using characteristics of the classical epic; the invocation of a deity, a regular statement of theme, the division of the work into books and cantos, ostentatious speeches, battles and supernatural machinery; to reveal the absurdity of a certain subject. ... These sylphs represent Meddling Gods and Goddesses that exist in most epic poems; Pope diminishes the idea of these characters by choosing to make them appear as small, and almost insignificant creature. ... Canto IV continues to mak...

• Word Count: 1581
• Approx Pages: 6

This is exactly the case with John Milton's Satan from his poem Paradise Lost. ... These evil characteristics in the same person as the good characteristics cause many contradictions to arise throughout the poem. ... In his efforts to develop Satan as one of the main characters in the poem, Milton gives him both evil and heroic characteristics. ... As a result of the depth of his development, Satan cannot be typecast as a traditional epic hero or a classic villain. ... Leadership ability is also another positive characteristic in Satan. ...

• Word Count: 2236
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

These epic stories Gilgamesh from the "Epic of Gilgamesh", and Achilles from "Homer's Iliad" transpired in two different eras, their lives both had a surprising number of common points. ... Achilles, is known as the greatest and fastest hero on the Greek side during the Trojan War, and is also the subject of Homer's great epic poem about the Trojan War, the Iliad. ... ("The Epic of Gilgamesh" 39). ... Achilles and Gilgamesh both share many similar characteristics, they have experienced life so differently from the rest of the world but especially the death of thei...

• Word Count: 1671
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School