" The sylph Ariel protects Belinda, the main character of poem. Ariel guides Belinda in her daily activities and longs to keep Belinda from any harm. In the story of Beowulf, the God-like figure was at the forefront, fighting battles and portraying the heroic role. Conversely, the main duties of the sylphs are to direct others. Additionally, the power of Ariel is later rendered helpless when she looks into the heart of Belinda and discovers love. Pope cleverly expresses supernatural figures that break the mold of ordinary heroic poetry. .
Epic catalogue is a standard characteristic of all heroic poetry. This characteristic usually involves the listing in literature, particularly the listing of one's ancestral heritage. The story Beowulf contains a prime example of epic catalogue, listing the ancestors of the mighty Beowulf. Pope decides to list the armor that protects Belinda from the advances of men. Unconventionally, Belinda's armor is her cosmetic accessories. Pope writes, "This casket India's glowing gems unlocks, And all Arabia breathes from yonder box Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet-doux. Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms." Cosmetics are the arms Belinda uses to fight against men. The epic catalogue listed is dissimilar to normal listings and these objects are trivial. The poet skillfully plays upon words (e.g. arms) and shows an unconventional use of epic catalogue.
"The Rape of the Lock" depicts battle scenes short of epic proportion. Many epic battles consist of a daunting hero or an impenetrable army. Some stories consist of an inspired figure that leads his people to victory. Conversely, others portray the tragic fall of a seemingly unbeatable hero. This mock-heroic reveals a consequential battle, one that does not resort to physically fighting. Belinda first encounters battle with two adventurous knights. Pope implements superior language in describing the card game, "Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join, Each band the number of the sacred nine.
