"The Rape of Lock" by Alexander Pope is the most perfect example of mock-epic genre. The poem functions as a satire on interesting facts of fashionable life. 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). The main protagonist is Belinda and she acts as an epic hero. Pope's way of satirizing the fashionable society and its non-serious values is represented in the style of an epic poem, through the use of familiar epic devices.
In the beginning of the poem, the author prays and invokes the muse to prove him and to tell him about the subject and to tell him about a hero called Belinda. The author does not invoke God, but his friend John Caryll. By invocation, he wants to know why the Lord offenses a lady and why the lady rejects him. The plot of the poem begins with a beginning of a day. The sun is rising, but Belinda is still sleeping. The next scene presents the supernatural figures like Sylphs, Gnomes, etc. One of them Ariel represents someone who talks as a hero and someone who offers protection and warns Belinda.
"I saw, alas! Some dread event impend,.
Ere to the main this morning sun descend.
But Heaven reveals not what, or how, or where:.
Warned by the Sylph, O pious maid, beware!.
This to disclose is all thy guardian can:.
Beware of all, but most beware of a Man!" (1. 109-114).
During the sailing on the river of Thames, Baron's religious sacrifice at the altar of love is another mock element because the mocking is usually epic tradition of sacrifice to God before battle. As the day passes on, Belinda arrives at Hampton Court Palace. Everything is ready for the battle. The battle is a card game called "ombre" and Belinda is ready for playing. Belinda is represented as a temperamental person, who is full of strength, and prepared for the battle.