The success of his Essay on Criticism (published in 1711) brought Pope a wider circle of friends, notably Richard Steele and Joseph Addison, who were then collaborating on the journal The Spectator. To this journal Pope contributed the most original of his pastorals, “The Messiah” (1712). He was clearly influenced by The Spectator’s policy of correcting public morals by witty admonishment, and in this vein he wrote the first version of his mock-epic, The Rape of the Lock (two canto version, 1712; five canto version, 1714), to reconcile two Catholic families. It was John Caryll who brought the family quarrel to the attention of Pope. Lord Petre had stolen a lock of Miss Arabella Fermor’s hair, which caused an animosity between the Petres and the Fermors, who had lived in great friendship before. Caryll had been staying with Lord Petre at Ingatestone in Essex, which was the assumed setting of the ‘rape’.1 “Caryll suggested that Pope should ‘write a poem to make a jest of it, and laugh them together again’.”2 Pope treated the dispute between the families as though it were comparable to the mighty quarrel between Greeks and Trojans, which had been Homer’s theme. Telling the story with all the pomp and circumstance of epic made not only the participants in the quarrel but also the society they lived in seem ridiculous.
“The Rape owes its richness and resonance to its overstructure of powerful, dangerous motifs.”3 With this opinion, Warren rejects the romantic view of the Rape as a ‘filigree artifice’ of the play with the fires of sex and religion, and he substantiates his argument with the notion that religion in Pope’s mock-epic is replaced by the Baron’s and Belinda’s “altars to Pride and Love”.
[...]
1 Cf. eg. Cunningham, J. S.: Pope: The Rape of the Lock. London: Edward Arnold Ltd., 1970 (1st ed. 1961), p. 9f. Hereafter cited as: Cunningham, J. S.: Pope: The Rape of the Lock.
2 Notes to The Rape of the Lock in: Pope, Alexander: The Rape of the Lock. In: Alexander Pope. A selection of his finest poems (Oxford Poetry Library). Ed. Pat Rogers. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994, p. 185. Hereafter cited as: Pope, Alexander: The Rape of the Lock.
3 Warren, Austin: “The Rape of the Lock as Burlesque.” (Extract) In: Critics on Pope. Readings in Literary Criticism (series). Ed. Judith O’Neill. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1973, p. 81.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Pope and the genre of mock-epic
- The Rape of the Lock – A versified mockery of folly and pride
- The plot
- The sylph machinery
- The aim of The Rape of the Lock
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The objective of this work is to analyze Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock within the context of the mock-epic genre. It explores the poem's satirical elements, its literary influences, and its commentary on 18th-century society.
- The mock-epic genre and its conventions
- Satire of high society and its follies
- The theme of pride and its consequences
- The use of supernatural elements (sylphs)
- The poem's reconciliation of feuding families
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This chapter introduces Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock, its creation as a means to reconcile two feuding families, and its context within Pope's career, influenced by the moralistic tone of The Spectator. It highlights the poem's transformation of a minor social incident into a mock-epic narrative, foreshadowing the poem's satirical use of elevated language to expose the absurdity of societal values.
Pope and the genre of mock-epic: This chapter delves into the characteristics of the mock-epic genre, tracing its origins from classical parodies to its flourishing in the Neoclassical period. It discusses how the mock-epic utilizes the conventions of epic poetry – elevated language, divine intervention, extended similes – to ironically portray trivial subjects. Pope's work is positioned within this tradition, referencing key influences like Boileau's Le Lutrin and Garth's The Dispensary, demonstrating his use of established forms to satirize contemporary social dynamics. The chapter also emphasizes the "heroi-comical" aspect, highlighting how Pope's poem elegantly uses the epic form to comment on the unheroic nature of the "modern" age and its protagonists.
The Rape of the Lock – A versified mockery of folly and pride: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of The Rape of the Lock itself, examining its plot, the role of the sylphs, and the poem's overall aim. While the individual sub-sections are not summarized separately, their themes are synthesized. The analysis explores how Pope uses the mock-epic structure to satirize the superficiality and vanity of high society, highlighting the theme of pride as a central motif and linking it to the characters' materialistic obsessions. The chapter further analyzes how the "rape" of the lock of hair becomes a symbol of a larger social conflict, thereby expanding its significance beyond a petty squabble. The importance of the sylphs is discussed within the overall satirical context, showing how they are used to heighten the absurdity of the situation and comment on the beliefs and values of the time.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, mock-epic, satire, Neoclassicism, high society, pride, vanity, sylphs, 18th-century England, social commentary, literary parody.
Alexander Pope's *The Rape of the Lock*: A Comprehensive Overview - FAQ
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an analysis of Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, offering a structured overview suitable for academic use.
What are the main themes explored in *The Rape of the Lock*?
The analysis focuses on satire, the mock-epic genre, social commentary on 18th-century high society, the themes of pride and vanity, and the use of supernatural elements (sylphs).
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters covering an introduction to The Rape of the Lock and its context, an examination of Pope and the mock-epic genre, a detailed analysis of The Rape of the Lock itself (including plot, sylphs, and overall aim), and a conclusion (implied).
What is the mock-epic genre, and how does it relate to *The Rape of the Lock*?
The mock-epic genre uses the conventions of epic poetry (elevated language, divine intervention, extended similes) to ironically portray trivial subjects. The Rape of the Lock exemplifies this by using the grand style of epic poetry to satirize the superficial concerns of high society.
What role do the sylphs play in *The Rape of the Lock*?
The sylphs are supernatural beings used by Pope to heighten the absurdity of the situation and to comment on the beliefs and values of 18th-century society. Their presence contributes to the poem's satirical effect.
What is the significance of the "rape" of the lock of hair?
The "rape" of the lock of hair, while seemingly a minor incident, serves as a symbol of a larger social conflict, representing the superficiality and vanity of high society and the consequences of pride.
What are some key influences on Pope's writing in *The Rape of the Lock*?
The analysis mentions influences such as the moralistic tone of *The Spectator* and other mock-epic works like Boileau's *Le Lutrin* and Garth's *The Dispensary*. These influences demonstrate Pope's engagement with established literary forms and his use of them to create satire.
What is the overall aim of the analysis of *The Rape of the Lock*?
The primary objective is to analyze The Rape of the Lock within the context of the mock-epic genre, exploring its satirical elements, literary influences, and commentary on 18th-century society.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, mock-epic, satire, Neoclassicism, high society, pride, vanity, sylphs, 18th-century England, social commentary, literary parody.
- Quote paper
- Daniela Esser (Author), 2001, Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/6571
