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The Rape of the Lock

            Alexander Pope's satirical "The Rape of the Lock" embodies the structure and style of a mock-heroic. This Horation satire is purposely written to invoke laughter and ridicule particular aspects of society. The hero-comical poem contains the conventional elements of heroic poetry, yet Pope implements humor and exaggeration within this literary work. Pope writes, "What dire offense from amorous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things." Lines one and two of Canto I of the poem reveal the theme of the poem. The lines indicate the amplification of events that occur in the poem. The poet is brilliant in his use of the components involved in heroic poetry. However, Pope employs unconventional characters and objects in place of the predictable figures seen in poetry of heroism. Sylphs are the unlikely supernatural beings presented in the "The Rape of the Lock". Pope utilizes cosmetics as a type of epic catalogue. The improbable epic battle is fought with a game of cards, not physically on a gruesome battlefield. Furthermore, the tragedy of Belinda involves losing a lock of her hair, far from an extravagant death found in heroic poetry. Alexander Pope's exceptional use of unique language and characters increase the effectiveness of "The Rape of the Lock" as a mock-heroic.
             A heroic poem consists of beings that transcend those living on earth. The typical supernatural beings are grand in physique and possess strength uncommon to man. Beowulf and Grendel are perfect manifestations of the supernatural in heroic poetry. "The Rape of Lock" portrays creatures that stray from the familiar God-like beings. Sylphs were miniature in stature and unseen to the naked eye. The tiny creatures represent the complete opposite of the exterior appearance of a usual supernatural being. Their purpose is to guard and lead women who have not yet fallen in love, " Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste Rejects mankind, is by some Sylph embraced: For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease Assume what sexes and shape they please.


Essays Related to The Rape of the Lock

1. Rape of the Lock

Alexander Pope began "The Rape of the Lock" in 1711 after an incident involving two families he knew. ... Pope put together the first version of The Rape of the Lock, which consisted of two cantos, and gave a copy of it to each of the two families involved. ... By the time Pope decided to write The Rape of the Lock he had plenty of experience with epic language from which to draw. ... A central theme of The Rape of the Lock is the game of Ombre which Belinda plays against the Baron in Canto III. ... The Rape of the Lock was one of the most famous poems of the 18th century, widely considere...

  • Word Count: 1460
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Rape of the lock

Since the beginning of time there has been a universal thought that man are superior to woman and such is the universal theme in Alexander Pope's, The Rape of the Lock. ... This then leads to the significance of the title of the poem The Rape of the Lock, because Belinda becomes a victim to humiliation in society because a lock of her hair had been cut off after losing in a game of cards, causing her beauty to be lessened therefore making it harder for her to obtain pride and social status. ... It proved to be amusing for the fact that such a simple action like the Baron cut off a lo...

  • Word Count: 473
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. The Rape Of The Lock

Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" has its foundation in an amorous joke played by the young Lord Petre on Miss Arabella Fermor. ... 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 and airy. ... In fact all satire is largely descended from the classical Greek and Roman literatures, something which one must find fascinating, given the particular nature of Pope's "The Rape of the Lock". ... It is here that we also come to realise how utterly important Pope's inclusion of the sylphs and spirits ...

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

4. The Rape Of The Lock

One of the best examples of a Mock Epic is Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock. ... In The Rape of the Lock, Pope exhausts much energy preparing the audience for a "battle" (card game) that will shortly take place, that of English intrigue at Hampton Court. ... The Rape of the Lock discloses Pope's thoughts concerning the consequence of beauty upon women as distinctive persons, a variety of males, religion and the public at large. ... In the Rape of the Lock Pope reveals the effects beauty has on other people. ... The Rape of the Lock links comedy but nonetheless biting social sati...

  • Word Count: 1581
  • Approx Pages: 6

5. pope, the rape of the lock

Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock is not generally seen as a love story. ... The real love story in The Rape of the Lock is not easily found but implied between the Baron (Robert, Lord Petre) and Belinda (Arabella Fermor). ... Unfortunately he has to steal that lock by cutting the lock with the scissors given to him by Clarissa. Because the Baron cannot refrain from stealing the lock he loses the girl. ... Although hard to see, the love story in The Rape of the Lock, is an interesting critique. ...

  • Word Count: 598
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Pope, the rape of the lock

Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock is not generally seen as a love story. ... The real love story in The Rape of the Lock is not easily found but implied between the Baron (Robert, Lord Petre) and Belinda (Arabella Fermor). ... Unfortunately he has to steal that lock by cutting the lock with the scissors given to him by Clarissa. Because the Baron cannot refrain from stealing the lock he loses the girl. ... Although hard to see, the love story in The Rape of the Lock, is an interesting critique. ...

  • Word Count: 589
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. The Rape of the Lock

Sylphs In Alexander Pope's introduction to, The Rape of the Lock, Sylphs are described as fictitious, gentle spirits inhabiting the air. ... Zephryetta guarded Belinda's fan, Brillante guarded her earrings, Momentilla guarded the watch, and Crispissa guarded her hair, specifically Belinda's "favorite Lock" (297). ... Belinda's fate is to win the game, but through the course of events, lose her favorite lock. ... In particular, her favorite lock which hangs loosely behind her ear. ... As the Sylphs realize what is happening, they desperately try to save it, "Swift to the L...

  • Word Count: 872
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. A Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope

"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). ... The lock disappears into the sky and becomes a star. ...

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

9. Relationship Between Form & Content Within Rape of the lock

The Existing Relationship Between Form and Content Within Pope's Rape of the Lock The Rape of the Lock was written to bring peace between two families after a conflict arose when a young man snipped off a lock of a woman's hair. ... The Rape of the Lock is a very critical piece of poetry in which there are many reasons for. ... Pope's Rape of the Lock follows this to a great extent. ... In The Rape of the Lock, I also notice most of the lines have four stressed syllables each, making it tetrasyllabic. ...

  • Word Count: 1760
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

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