Journal of Literature, Culture and Media Studies

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The Rape of the Lock:A Discourse on Mock Epic


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1 Mahila P.G. MahaVidyalaya, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
     

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The poem The Rape of the Lock is written by Alexander Pope. In present poem the subject is very trivial but it is written in grand epic style. Alexander Pope through this poem exposes follies of contemporary aristocratic women, lords and politicians. In the poem Pope parodies epic tradition of Homer, Virgil and Milton. There are many allusions to their epics in the poem as invocation to muse in the poem has similarity with the invocation of muse in great epics of Homer and Milton. The very beginning of poem displays an invocation to muse but the theme of the poem is very trivial in comparison with great epics. Like great epics the poem is divided into cantos. It has small episodes like game of ombre, underworld journey of gnome, battles. In the poem the poet has introduced supernatural machinery in form of sylphs and gnomes. The poet exposes the vanities and hollowness of contemporary women through them. We can see traces of Greek mythology and medieval romance in the poem for satirical purpose.

Keywords

Mock Epic, Rape of Lock, Belinda, Vanities, Lords, Ladies, 18th Century London Society, Alexander Pope, Satire, Game of Ombre, Cave of Spleen, Sylph, Dream, Homer.
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  • Chaudhury, R.Ray. 2017. “The Dedicatory Letter to Mrs.Arabella Fermor by Alexander Pope-The Rape of the Lock.’’academia.edu.N.p. n.d.Web.20 May. http:/ /www.academia.edu/6516084/THE_DEDICATORY_LETTER_ TO_MRS._ ARABELLA_FERMOR_BY_ALEXANDER_POPE_THE_RAPE_OF_THE_LOCK..._ PARENTAL_GUIDANCE_

  • Hazlitt, William.2017. ‘’On Dryden and Pope.’’ Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (illustrated). Books.google.co.in. Delphi Classics.23 Oct.2015.Web. 20May. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4NbMCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT658&dq=, +the+apotheosis+of+foppery++ %2B+hazlitt&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLqJmol7 XUAhXLQY8KHU9SBcEQ6AEIKzAB #v= onepage&q=%2C%20the%20 apotheosis%20of% 20foppery %20%20%2B%20hazlitt&f=false

  • Homer.1961. The Iliad, trans. Richmond Lattimore. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Print.

  • Homer.1961. The Odyssey, trans. A.S.Kline. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Print.

  • Mandelbaum Allen.2017.trans. The Aenied of Virgil. Books.google.co.in. Random House.n.d.Web.26 May. www.books.google.co.in

  • Pope, Alexander.2017. “Use of Machinery in The Rape of the Lock.’’ Bachelorandmaster. com.N.p.n.d.Web.26May.www.bachelorandmaster.com.13.05.17.

  • Pope, Alexander.1714.The Rape of the Lock.Poetryfoundation.org. N.p.n.d.

  • Web.10June2017

  • https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and poets/poems/detail/44906


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  • The Rape of the Lock:A Discourse on Mock Epic

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Authors

Pooja Mittal
Mahila P.G. MahaVidyalaya, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract


The poem The Rape of the Lock is written by Alexander Pope. In present poem the subject is very trivial but it is written in grand epic style. Alexander Pope through this poem exposes follies of contemporary aristocratic women, lords and politicians. In the poem Pope parodies epic tradition of Homer, Virgil and Milton. There are many allusions to their epics in the poem as invocation to muse in the poem has similarity with the invocation of muse in great epics of Homer and Milton. The very beginning of poem displays an invocation to muse but the theme of the poem is very trivial in comparison with great epics. Like great epics the poem is divided into cantos. It has small episodes like game of ombre, underworld journey of gnome, battles. In the poem the poet has introduced supernatural machinery in form of sylphs and gnomes. The poet exposes the vanities and hollowness of contemporary women through them. We can see traces of Greek mythology and medieval romance in the poem for satirical purpose.

Keywords


Mock Epic, Rape of Lock, Belinda, Vanities, Lords, Ladies, 18th Century London Society, Alexander Pope, Satire, Game of Ombre, Cave of Spleen, Sylph, Dream, Homer.

References