Beginning with Virgil who adapted the pastoral by presenting the lives of the shepherd's in a more idealized way and also used it to indicate contemporary political problems. ... However, there is still the ability to argue the poem's natural form. ... The actual meaning of this poem expresses human intervention in nature, which then allows for this poem to be seen in an artificial way. ... " Many comparisons can be made between this poem and Christopher Marlowe's poem 'The Passionate Shepherd to his Love'. Marlowe romanticizes the Nymph in his poem. ...

• Word Count: 1808
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The poem first appeared in1712 in a two-canto form, a mere 334 lines, but was revised by Pope and reappeared in its current five-canto form in 1714. ... In the poem the role of the supernatural beings is multi-faceted, and they are used by Pope to demonstrate many ideas. ... 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" . ... The second, hugely important function of the sylphs in "The Rape of the Lock" is to ensure that the mood of the poem remains light a...

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