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English Department Homepage English Literature I Syllabus

The Rape of the Lock

by Alexander Pope

About Alexander Pope

Summary

Writing Style

The Rape of the Lock (Powerpoint File)

The Game of Ombre (Powerpoint File)

About Alexander Pope

		Born in Catholic Family
		Suffered Prejudice
		Educated in Twyford


	Moved to Binfield in 1700
	Self-taught: "did nothing but read and write"
	Suffered from ill health: tuberculosis, asthma, and headaches
	Humpbacked and deformed

	Published An Essay on Criticism in 1711
	First striking success as a poet
	Made friends with Jonathan Swift and John Gay


		Published an early version of "The Rape of the Lock" in 1712 (two cantos)
		A funny battle between sexes and follies of a young lady
		Expanded "The Rape of the Lock" in 1714 (five cantos)
		A quarrel between two families
		Characters
		Lord Petre :Baron
		Miss Arabella Fermor: Belinda
		Background
		John Caryll's suggestion to "pour poetic oils on these troubled waters" or
		Hope that "a little laughter might serve to soothe ruffled tempers."
		Pope's Purpose
		Do not worry about trivial things!


	Translated Iliad and Odyssey into English
	The first man to prove "Literature can raise writers."
	Published The Dunciad in 1728
	Became professional satirist
	“Sleepless themselves to give their readers sleep”
	Died on May 30, 1744
	The "Age of Pope" ended

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Summary

	Canto I


	Belinda awakes from sleeping


	The dream of Belinda


	Belinda prepares for the day’s social activities

	Canto 2 The travel on the Thames river The prayer of the young adventurer Baron The Sylphs' mission to "tend the Fair" —to protect Belinda Brillante—the earrings Chrispissa—the locks Ariel—Shock, Belinda’s lapdog Momentilla—the watch fifty chosen Sylphs—the petticoat

	Canto 3 The game of cards—ombre 　 The rape of the lock

	Canto 4 Belinda’s Ill-Natured mood and Affection after the loss of the lock Umbriel, the earthy gnome, descends to the Cave of Spleen Thalestris’ speech rouses the rage of Belinda Sir Plume bids in vain the payment of the lock

	Canto 5 Clarissa’s speech The battle of belles and beaux The lock rises to the heaven and becomes a star

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Writing Style

Epic

Epic, the characteristic

A long narrative poem
Elevated, grand style
Great heroes and heroines
The setting is vast in geographical range
Supernatural power

Epic Conventions

The theme is usually the adventure of a hero or a war.
Invocate the Muse’s aid. (Calliope)
Ask epic question(s).
Begin with in medias res.
Use epithets and similes.
Gods' interference in human affairs.

Mock epic

A work designed to ridicule attitudes, style, or subject matter by handling either an elevated subject in a trivial manner or a low subject with mock dignity (Karl 30).
Renders a trivial subject ridiculous by treating it with the elaborate (Karl 31).
Compare small things with something great.

Mock Epic
　

Journey to the underworld	The Cave of Spleen (ill nature of female hypochondriacs) (4. 1)
Sacrifice offering to gods before an important war or journey	Baron sacrifices his former love-token. (2.35)
Battle	Cliches, frowns and angry glances, snuff and bodkin. “So spoke the dame, “ (5. 35). The card game (Ombre).
Rape of the female chastity	Rape of a lock of hair

Epic/Mock Epic

Traditional Epic	The Rape of the Lock
Invoke the aid of the muse: Calliope	"Say what strange motive, Goddess! Could compel" (1. 7)
Begin with in medias res	No
Gods are involved	Spirits (Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs…) are involved

The Epic Question

“Among the gods, who brought this quarrel on?”(Iliad)

1 What dire offense from amorous causes springs,
What mighty contests rise from trivial things, …

7 Say what strange motive, Goddess! Could compel
A well-bred lord to assault a gentle belle?
Oh, say what stranger cause, yet unexplored,
Could make a gentle belle reject a lord?
In tasks so bold can little men engage,
And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage?

Homeric Simile

“Achilles, fast in battle as a lion.”
“Hera, whose arms are white as ivory.”

“Quick as her eyes” (2. 10), “Bright as the sun” (2. 13),
“Shrink his thin essence like a riveled flower” (2. 132),
“And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace” (3. 98).

Homeric Epithet
　

“man-killer Hector”
“sharp-eyed Hermes”
“Bolt-hurling Zeus”
　

“Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her shone” (2. 5)
“The long-contended honours of her head” (4.140)
“Why round our coaches crowd the white-glov'd beaux?” (5. 13).

Structure

Heroic couplet
       ---> Rhymed in every two lines.

Iambic pentameter
      ---> Ten syllables in each line
      ---> Alternate with stressed and unstressed syllables

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