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The Rape of the Lock introduction

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33 views

The Rape of the Lock introduction

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antiterrorismcourtgujranwala
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The Rape of the Lock

by Alexander Pope
About Alexander Pope
※Born in a Catholic
family
Suffered from
prejudices

Educated in
Twyford
About Alexander Pope
※Moved to Binfield in 1700

Self-taught: “did nothing but read and


write”

Suffered from ill health: tuberculosis,


asthma, and headaches
About Alexander Pope
※Moved to Binfield
in 1700

Humpbacked and
deformed
About Alexander Pope
※Published An Essay on Criticism
in 1711

First striking success as a poet

※ Made friends with Jonathan Swift


and John Gay
About Alexander Pope
※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
About Alexander Pope
※ Expanded “The Rape
of the Lock” in 1714
(five cantos)

A quarrel between
two families
◎ Characters:
Lord Petre :Baron
Miss Arabella
Fermor: Belinda
About Alexander Pope
◎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!
About Alexander Pope
※Translated Iliad
and Odyssey into
English

The first man to


prove “Literature can
raise writers.”
About Alexander Pope
※Published The Dunciad in 1728

Became professional satirist

“Sleepless themselves to give their


readers sleep”
About Alexander Pope

※ Died on May 30, 1744

The “Age of Pope” ended


Summary
Canto 1

 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
Writing Style

Epic

Mock epic

Structure
Epic, the
Characteristics
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.
Epic/ Mock Epic
Traditional The Rape of the
Epic Lock
Invoke the aid of “ Say what strange
the muse: motive, Goddess!
Calliope Could compel” (1. 7)
Begin with in
No
medias res
Spirits (Sylphs,
Gods are
Gnomes, Nymphs…)
involved
are involved
The Epic Question
1 What dire offense from amorous causes
springs,
What mighty contests rise from trivial
things,
…
“Among the
gods, who 7 Say what strange motive, Goddess! Could
brought this compel
quarrel on?” A well-bred lord to assault a gentle belle?
Oh, say what stranger cause, yet
(Iliad)
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 “Quick as her eyes” (2.


battle as a lion.” 10), “Bright as the sun”
(2. 13),
“Hera, whose
arms are white as “Shrink his thin
ivory.” essence like a riveled
flower” (2. 132),

“And falls like thunder


on the prostrate Ace”
(3. 98).
Homeric Epithet

“man-killer “Fair nymphs, and


Hector” well-dress'd youths
around her shone”
“sharp-eyed (2. 5)
Hermes” “The long-contended
honours of her head”
“Bolt-hurling (4.140)
Zeus”
“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
Mock Epic

Journey to the The Cave of Spleen


underworld (ill nature of female
hypochondriacs) (4.
1)
Sacrifice offering to Baron sacrifices his
gods before an former love-token.
important war or (2.35)
journey
Mock Epic

Battle Cliches, frowns and


angry glances, snuff
and bodkin. “So spoke
the dame, “ (5. 35).
The card game
(Ombre).

Rape of the Rape of a lock of hair


female chastity

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