Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock is an outstanding example of the neoclassic genre of mock epic
. Pope uses the mock epic to satirize the triviality of 18th-century high society through exaggerat
ion and parody. Basing his poem on an actual incident that occurred among some of his acquaintances
, Pope intended his story to put the episode into humorous perspective and encourage his friends to
laugh at their own actions. A mock epic is a poem dealing with petty subject matter in the exalted s
tyle of the great literary epics. This genre is a form of parody for satirical purposes. The poem
uses the trivial story of the stolen lock of hair as a vehicle for making judgments on society and o
n men and women in general. Characteristics of the ILLIAD and the ODYSSEY that the Rape of the Lock
mocks include: the statement of the theme, invocation of the muse, description of the great battles
, supernatural beings taking part in the affairs of men and the hero becoming immortalized in a star
or constellation (Long, "Pope" 1). In the opening lines "What dire offense from amorous causes spri
ngs, / What almighty contests rise from trivial things" (Canto I, lines 1-2), Pope states the theme
of the poem: that trivial matters should remain just that- trivial. In the lines following the
inv
ocation of an unlikely muse is clearly stated "I sing- This Verse to Caryll, Muse! Is due" (Canto 1,
3). The entire poem is divided into five cantos and is written in heroic couplet verse. The use of
the heroic couplet is typically neoclassic because it exhibits the ideals of the time. In order to
write a heroic couplet the author must have complete control over his words and the story he wants t
o tell. A strong sense of order is needed so that the couplets may rhyme and most importantly make
sense to the reader at the same time. The heroic couplet perfectly accents the epic devices used in
the poem, for, as a form of verse the heroic couplet seems to have a connotation of larger-than-lif
e-situations in the minds of its readers. By using this style in describing such insignificant matt
ers in his poem, Pope only supports his theme that his society places great importance on minor matt
ers. Pope's elaborate portrayal of events in Canto I furthers comparison with the literary epic; it
parodies the traditional epic passage describing the shields of ancient warriors. Belinda's make-up
routine is compared to the putting on of armor: "From each she nicely culls with curious toil,/ And
decks the goddess with the glittering spoil" (Canto II, 131-132). Make-up, clothing, jewelry and ot
her material possessions are this parody's substitutes for armor and weapons. Pope closely imitates
the epic form for comic effect in order to expose the questionable values of his time. "Using a vas
t force to lift a feather" (Long,"Pope" n.p.), thoroughly describes Pope's reasons for his use of el
aborate language. He uses the epic's exaggeration to mock misplaced priorities. The great battles
of the literary epic are transformed into card games and flirtatious charades. The great Greek and R
oman gods are converted into an army of protective but powerless
sprites called "sylphs" who protec
t both the serious and the trivial. For all of her strife "This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to F
ame, / And mid'st the Stars inscribe Belinda's name" (Canto V, lines 149-150). Belinda is immortaliz
ed in the sky by a star bearing her name. "Satire is a glass wherein beholders do generally discover
everybody's face but their own" (Long, "Racine" 4). Pope uses every aspect of the mock epic to sat
irize the frivolity of the people around him. He takes specific scenes and uses parody to illustrat
e the insignificance of everyday rituals. He even uses the structure of rhyming couplets to juxtapo
se the ordinary with the extraordinary to reveal the society's distorted value system.
alexander po
pe rape lock outstanding example neoclassic genre mock epic pope uses mock epic satirize triviality
century high society through exaggeration parody basing poem actual incident that occurred among som
e acquaintances pope intended story episode into humorous perspective encourage friends laugh their
actions mock epic poem dealing with petty subject matter exalted style great literary epics this gen
re form parody satirical purposes poem uses trivial story stolen lock hair vehicle making judgments
society women general characteristics illiad odyssey that rape lock mocks include statement theme in
vocation muse description great battles supernatural beings taking part affairs hero becoming immort
alized star constellation long opening lines what dire offense from amorous causes springs what almi
ghty contests rise from trivial things canto lines states theme that trivial matters should remain j
ust lines following invocation unlikely muse clearly stated sing this verse caryll muse canto entire
divided into five cantos written heroic couplet verse heroic couplet typically neoclassic because e
xhibits ideals time order write heroic couplet author must have complete control over words story wa
nts tell strong sense order needed couplets rhyme most importantly make sense reader same time perfe
ctly accents devices used form verse seems have connotation larger than life situations minds reader
s using this style describing such insignificant matters only supports theme society places great im
portance minor matters elaborate portrayal events canto furthers comparison with literary parodies t
raditional passage describing shields ancient warriors belinda make routine compared putting armor f
rom each nicely culls with curious toil decks goddess glittering spoil make clothing jewelry other m
aterial possessions parody substitutes armor weapons closely imitates form comic effect order expose
questionable values time using vast force lift feather long thoroughly describes reasons elaborate
language uses exaggeration misplaced priorities battles literary transformed into card games flirtat
ious charades greek roman gods converted army protective powerless sprites called sylphs protect bot
h serious strife shall consecrate fame stars inscribe belinda name belinda immortalized star bearing
name satire glass wherein beholders generally discover everybody face their long racine every aspec
t satirize frivolity people around takes specific scenes illustrate insignificance everyday rituals
even structure rhyming couplets juxtapose ordinary extraordinary reveal distorted value systemEssay,
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