It was occasioned by a frolic, carried rather beyond the bounds of good breeding, in which lord petre cut off a lock of mrs. But back in 1714, when pope published the rape of the lock, the term. Mockepic or mockheroic or heroicomical terms are applied to literary works in which the epic or heroic tradition is ridiculed. The rape of the lock opens with a brief letter from pope to the poem s reallife subject, arabella belle fermor. Pope had intelligently used the formula and elevated style of epic poetry but has employed it to something very trivial. Popes use of the mockepic genre is complex and exhaustive. The rape of the lock is a mockheroic epic poem, both in its matter and spirit. Lapdogs shake themselves awake, bells begin to ring, and although it is already noon, belinda still sleeps. For the sake of convenience, i will focus on opening passages.
Alexander popes masterpiece the rape of the lock is one of the greatest mockheroic poems in english literature. Again, pope has taken the lofty conventions of epic poetry and reduced them to the. In mac flecknoe, dryden practically invented, as far as english literature is concerned, the mockheroic poem. Alexander pope was the central figure of augustan age, for his best mockheroic poetry the rape of the lock, written based on a contemporary scandal. This book examines the mockepic poem rape of the lock in its social, literary, and historical contexts.
In the tradition of epic poetry, pope opens the poem by invoking a muse, but rather than invoke one of the mythic greek muses, pope leaves the muse anonymous and instead dedicates the poem to john caryll, the man who commissioned the poem. The rape of the lock is a mockepic or mockheroic epic. The purpose of the mockepic or mockheroic poem is satirical. In the letter, he explains why he wrote the poem in the first place, the circumstances that led him to publish it, and why he dedicates it to arabella. Alexander pope wrote this particular poem with the sole purpose to satirize and end an absurd quarrel between two families which centered around the obsession of cutting off a lock of hair. The first edition of the rape of the lock has been given as an appendix in order that the student may have the opportunity of comparing the two forms of this poem, and of realizing the admirable art with which pope blended old and new in the version that is now the only one known to the average reader. It belongs to the literary type, called burlesque or parody. The second style seeks to place the poem within the culture and historical time period that it was produced, hoping to prove that the poem is a product of society. The rape of the lock is a further demonstration of popes skill to adapt the rich rhetorical tradition of the ancients as well as that of the preceding english poets including milton into his own writing. Alexander pope the rape of the lock canto i genius. The text throughout is that of the globe edition prepared by professor a. If we want popes the rape of the lock to be a unified and consistent experience, we have to confront one potential interpretative problem, displayed for the first time in the revised version of the poem in the 1717 works v. Clarissa is, on the one hand, the advocate of good humour and merit v.
The earliest version of popes mock heroic poem the rape of the lock, composed in a fortnight during summer 1711, had for nine months been anonymously printed in bernard. In it, there is invocation to muses, proposition of subject, battles, supernatural machinery, journey on water, underworld journey, long speeches, feasts coffee house, homeric similes and grand style but all for a simple family dispute instead of a national struggle. Then the sun sol appears to initiate the leisurely morning routines of a wealthy household. This is sometimes considered popes most popular poem because it was a mockheroic epic, written to make fun of a high society quarrel between arabella fermor the belinda of. In the rape of the lock, pope satirises the trivialities of london high society. Below are some standard features of the epic, each followed by the place in the poem where pope uses a similar mockheroic element. High art, high comedy and a sweeping knowledge of the ways and wiles of an age.
Pope followed in march 1714 as a fivecanto version 794 lines accompanied by six engravings. The theme starts here at the very beginning of the poem, where pope is making an invocation to the muse to help him write it in true, mock epic fashion. Because it draws on wellknown heroes or literary themes, mockepic poetry. Dryden seems to have conceived the mockheroic or parody as a kind of anti image of the true.
The negative images of women in popes the rape of the. The rape of the lock, mockepic poem in heroic couplets by alexander pope. A mockepic, this is essentially a modernday welleducated hipsters sarcastic take on previous literature, taking methods, imagery etc. Alexander popes the rape of the lock is a famous mockepic. Rape lock pope free download as powerpoint presentation. Pope is mocking not only belindas hyperbole but also the extravagant emotions.
The rape of the lock was first published in the year 1712 with only two cantos. The poem is an epic and under the genre of mock epic with a humorous and mock heroic tone. The rape of the lock a mockepic poem heroiccomical poem. He could assume that his eighteenth century readers, educated in the classical and knowledgeable about epic, would recognise that it was a mockery. Poetry, rape, lock, mock epic, satire, hijaa, comparative. Additionally, there were a few attempts at a mockheroic novel. When pope called the poem an heroicomical poem, he intended to mean it a mockepic. Use of the mockepic style in the rape of the lock essay. Alexander pope, the representative poet of the 18th century in england, brought mock heroic poem to. The rape of the lock parodies the traditional epic in numerous ways. Miscellaneous poems and translations the rape of the lock. Ancient greek poet is best known as the author of the iliad and the odyssey. Pope wrote this mockepic poem at the request of his friend john caryll to help heal a rift between two prominent catholic families.
The gap it creates between the form and the main matter is an artistic way of indicating the significant difference between the looks and the reality. John caryll petres relative suggests pope to write a verse. Pope used an alternative model of gods and goddesses to the traditional greek ones. One of the finest examples of mock heroic poetry in the english language was composed after john caryll, a friend of popes, informed the poet of an incident regarding two. Consequently, the reader of the rape of the lock must be patient until the verse. He based his machinery instead on tiny rosicrucian beings. It was first published in 1712 containing two cantos. The short answer is that the rape of the lock is both mock epic and mockheroic epic. Thus, the opening lines of the poem state its theme which is, that love.
Rape of the lock a mock heroic epic poem slideshare. The poem captures an essential element in the spirit of the age. Alexander popes the rape of the lock is a satirical and often demeaning look at the roles of women in 17 th century english society. The poem is a mock epic because it uses the epic form, a genre meant for serious subjects, such as the trojan war in homers iliad, and applies it to such a trivial issue as the loss of a lock of. The incident of the poem is of trivial nature but the treatment is heroic. Mockheroic features of popes the rape of the lock free. One of the most commonly cited examples of high burlesque, it was first. The first version, published in 1712, consisted of two cantos. Mock epic and mockheroic epic are often considered the same thing. The rape of the lock is a poem in which every element of the contemporary scene conjures up some image from epic tradition or the classical. The rape of the lock as a mockheroic poem essay 955 words.
For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. The rape of the lock as a mock heroic or mock epic poem the epic is a narrative poem, of supposed divine inspiration, treating of a subject of great and momentous importance for mankind, the characters of the story being partly human and partly divine, and the language and style in which the incidents are related being full of elevation and dignity. One of the most commonly cited examples of high burlesque, it was first published anonymously in lintots miscellaneous poems and translations may 1712 in two cantos 334 lines. Looks like men and women swap places in this quote. It deals with the journey from an insignificant event of cutting hair lock of a belle, to a trojan war. The rape of the lock is a poem in which every element of the contemporary scene conjures up some image from epic tradition or the classical world view, and the pieces are wrought together with such cleverness and expertise that makes the poem surprisingly delightful.
Framing clarissas good sense in the rape of the lock. The rape of the lock opens with an invocation of a muse and establishes the poems subject matter, specifically a dire offense from amorous causes and the mighty contests rising from trivial things 12. He has drawn the real picture of his contemporary society. The epic introit first we need a couple of baselines. Choose a selfcontained section of the rape of the lock such as belindas morning ritual or umbriels descent into the cave of spleen and discuss its function within the poem as a whole. Mockepic poetry references classical works that use humor in order to make a new point. The rape of the lock now that weve discussed how mockheroic poetry uses the same poetic form and rhetoric as heroic poetry, lets examine what makes the content of mockheroic poetry unique. Poetryi the rape of the lock as a mockheroic poem css. Popes description of the rape of the lock as a mockheroic poem misled some readers into thinking that the comic attack was intended against heroicpoetry. The negative images of wome in popes the rape of the lock. Despite the comedy is not a parody of tragedy it fulfils the purpose similar to the comic discourse.
The rape of the lock is a mock epic poem written by alexander pope who was one of the most influential writers of the eighteenth century. In it, there are invocation to muses, proposition of subject, battles, supernatural machinery, journey on water, underworld journey, long speeches, feasts coffee house. With belindas morning routine, pope establishes the mockheroic motifs that occur throughout the poem. Discuss alexander popes the rape of the lock as a mock. Based on an actual incident and written to reconcile the families that had been estranged by. Mockheroic epic deals with almost all characteristics of an epic poem, like, grand style, use of poetic diction, epic simile, description of nature, message, except grand subject, and so we find them in the rape of lock. The speaker concludes his invocation by asking the muse to explain first why a lord of goodbreeding would assault a lady and, secondly, why a lady would reject a lord. A mockepic poem is supposed to be the inspiration of a muse, the characters are partly human and partly divine, and the language is stilted and grandiose, but. What dire offence from amrous causes springs,what mighty contests rise from trivial things from canto i first edition, containing the first appearance of popes the rape of the lock. In conclusion, the rape of the lock visibly unites both mockheroic poem and comedy. Discuss alexander popes the rape of the lock as a mock heroic poem essay sample. The rape of the lock as a mockheroic poem 943 words 4 pages.
Characteristics of the rape of the lock as a mockepic poem. Pope compared the situation to that of the world of the gods in a mocking fashion. Without a doubt, popes the rape of the lock is a model of the mock heroic poem. Mock epic is a narrative poem which aims at mockery and laughter by using almost all the characteristic features of an epic but for a trivial subject. The most memorable work by pope is this mockheroic poem, the rape of the lock, which diffused an actual incident between two aristocratic, catholic families, who under the test act were subject to harsh restrictions and penalties as nonanglicans.
Alexander pope was one of the best satirist of the augustan age who also aims to educate and entertain readers at the same time. The purpose of a mockheroic or mockepic poem is satirical. The most significant later mockheroic poems were by alexander pope. And he uses just such an occasionsomeone cutting off a friends lock of hairto craft this long, funny, famous poem, the rape of the lock. Hazlitt has called the poem the perfection of the mockepic. Popes description of the rape of the lock as a heroicomical poem misled some readers into thinking that the comic attack was intended against heroic poetry. On the first style, critics and scholars cite the mockheroic qualities of the poem, often referencing the satirical influences, creative powers, and narrative structures. The rape of the lock litcharts from the creators of. The rape of the lock is a mockheroic narrative poem written by alexander pope. Critical analysis the rape of the lock a mockheroic. I will try to demonstrate that this reading is so incomplete that it is really. The intention is to reject the artificiality and hollowness of the pops age.
The rape of the lock as a mock heroic or mock epic poem. The the rape of the lock quotes below are all either spoken by clarissa or refer to clarissa. Canto 1 summary the rape of the lock begins with a passage outlining the subject of the poem and invoking the aid of the muse. The opening of the rape of the lock establishes the poems mockheroic tone.
The rape of the lock as a mockepic poem neoenglish. Popes the rape of the lock is a noted example of the mockheroic style. The epic is a narrative poem of supposed divine inspiration treating of a subject of great and momentous importance. Spensers muiopotmos and draytons nymphidia are earlier examples, but they are purely and delightful exercises of fancy, and do not have the satirical content of the classical mockheroic.