Thinking activity on The Rape Of The Lock by Alexander Pope

The Rape Of The Lock : 

                                  __ Alexander Pope

       

      " The rape of the lock " is a mock up heroic poem of Alexander Pope . He was an English poet and snatirist of the Augustan period and one of its greatest artistic exponents.

 

                                    _ Alexander Pope

                ( 21 May 1688 , 30 May 1744 )

            

             Alexander Pope was a gretest neo-classical age. He was English poet of the early 18th century and a master of the heroic couplet, he is best known for satirical and discursive poetry.

---  THE RAPE OF THE LOCK 

                  " The Rape Of The Lock" is a mock up heroic narrative poem written by Alexander Pope . This poem is a long narrative poem of neo-classical age. The poem published in three different addition from 1712 to 1717.

                  Here, I am going to present thinking activity on Alexander Pope's satire  " The Rape Of The Lock " as a part of my tast.

1. Did this poem has characteristics of mock- heroic-poem ? 

  

                " The Rape Of The Lock " is finest mock- heroic poem which contains the characteristics of mock heroic poem. A mock heroic poem is a kind of narrative poem. Alexander Pope, the representative poet of the 18th century in England. The Rape Of The Lock is the masterpiece of mock heroic poem.

     

                      The Rape Of The Lock is considered one of the most successful mock heroic poem written in English literature. In this poem Pope has used spirits such as sylphs and Gnomes. A critical analysis of the theme and manner of the poem is necessary to justify how far the poem is a model of mock epic.

-- The Rape Of The Lock as mock heroic poem: 

               The Rape Of The Lock is a mock heroic poem. Pope uses mock heroic aspects in handling the machinery or supernatural elements in the Rape Of The Lock. In this poem Pope has used spirits such as sylphs and Gnomes. They play various functions and even take part in the battle of the mortals. In fact his futile function of the spirit cannot but mock us langh. 

               The statement of the central problem of the poem is presented in an epic manner. The characteristics of the mock epic is that the theme is very trivial and ridiculous. In this poem deals with the cutting of a lock of hair from the fashionable lady's head , the quarrel and bettle between the two opposite sexes. We found mock passions and emotions in The Rape Of The Lock. 

               In The Rape Of The Lock satisfies the requirements completely is a another important aspect of a mock epic. The poem is constructed with the purpose of mocking satire on the contemporary fashionable society. Where the young men and women passed their time in false love, visiting park and club and pleasure seeking. Pope exposes the ills and evils of his society. 

            So , this poem is mock heroic poem.

2. Do you think that Clarissa's speech is waste of time? 

                 Pope illustrates Clarissa's importance in ' The Rape Of The Lock' by giving her a big role in cantos.

                Clarissa's speech questions why beauty appears on a higher level when is does not have the power to cure diseases or keep one healthy . She points out that the society gears too much of their focus on beauty when qualities such as good sense and good humor are more important. Clarissa stresses that it important to have moral values such as merit and good humor. Good humor and merit symbolize a form of power, and this is made clear when Clarissa points out that regardless of what is lost, good humor and merit will continue to succeed.

               Not only does Clarissa describe good humor as powerful, she emphasizes its importance by stating it will prevail even " when airs, and flights , and screams and scolding fail. " This line portrays good humor as a precious quality, and it is a key reason why Clarissa makes her speech. She wonders why the world priorities beauty and other moral values.

                Clarissa's speech is significant because it states the moral of the poem. The glorious of social position and privilege are achieved in vain unless there is no good sense. The best course for a woman is there for to make good use of there power, maintaining good humour. Human beauty is vain and the real beauty lies in once inner soul or merit.

            So, we can say that Clarissa's speech is not waste of time.

3. Do you think that poem is narrated only for joy or is it a satire on contemporary society and time ? 

                ' The Rape Of The Lock' is a social satire. The poem exposes in a witty manner the follies and absurdities of the aristocratic life of the 18th century England.

              Alexander Pope satirize the young girls and boys, aristocratic woman and men, their free time activities, nature of husbands and wives, the professional judges and politicians of the day. In this poem, Pope reveals himself essentially as the spokesman of his age.

                  In this poem, Pope calls our attention to the idleness and late rising aristocratic ladies of the time who possesses keen interest in domestic pets.  Their ambition to get married to peers and dukes or other high officials is also ridiculed in the opening can to of the poem.

                 We can also find that the coquetry, the art, the artifice and the false pride and vanities of the aristocratic ladies are the chief concern of Pope in this poem. Their ambition to get married to peers and dukes or other high officials is also ridiculed in the opening of the poem.

               Another very effective passages in this poem, Pope introduce the aerial machinery, which facilitates the satire. Pope also satirize of the husbands and wives of the day. Through the medium of satire, Pope paint a picture of the 18th century English society, he picture the society,is the aristocratic group of 18th century fashionable English society. But there are several allied subjects too, on which the inflicts his satire.

                  Thus, the poem is a reflection of this artificial and hollow life, painted with a humorous and delicate satire. The Rape Of The Lock is rightly considered the true genius of his satirical work.

4. Can we say that Belinda is Modern woman or foolish woman or fashionable woman or practical women ? 

                      " The Rape Of The Lock" is a mock epic poem which is written by Alexander Pope, the representation poet of the 18th century. Pope has pictured the character of Belinda as a model of the common fashionable ladies of contemporary society. Belinda is a central character of the poem. Belinda is a complex character in The Rape Of The Lock.

 

( Character sketch of Belinda ) 

                 In the rape of the lock several aspects of the personality of Belinda is portrayed by Alexander Pope. Belinda 's character is outstanding portrait by Pope in his mock epic. Belinda is a model of the common fashionable ladies of his time. Belinda is the chief attraction and she becomes the heroine of it. She is the only leading character.

                Belinda is a model arid more specifically represent the fashionable, aristocratic ladies of Pope's age. Such social butterflies in eighteenth century were regarded as petty triflers, having no serious concern with life, fall indicates the decadence of her class. She possesses keen interest for domestic pets. Her idleness is established when we see her sleeping into twelve. Belinda loves lap dogs more than her lover. Her dog knows when to wake up her. Through her, Pope describes the flippancy and depravity of the English society of his day.

               So , we can say that Belinda's portrayed is one of the awesome literary creations ever produced in the history of English literature. Pope seeks to throw light upon the fickle minded England depicting Belinda as the representative character.

5. The Rape Of The Lock - explain this title give your point of view.

                    The title of the poem is somehow confused the readers. The word 'rape ' have a sexual connotation. Generally rape means a violence on women, but here the word does not used in that way . Infect in 18th century, people does not aware of the rape, a sexual meaning.

                In 18th century, in Pope's day ' rape' also meant to carry away or take something from someone by force. The word' lock' here means the trees, curl, or ringlets of a woman's hair. Look of Belinda is in the center of the poem, and the whole story revolves around it.

              Look is concerned with Belinda's beauty of face which is seizing by her suiter, Baron who deciding to take her lock by anyway. He forcefully take Belinda's lock and then Belinda cries for her lock and the whole poem is revolves around this small incident. At the end of the poem, lock is lost somewhere and Pope ends the poem with asking that the lock of Belinda is gone to heaven.

              Thus, the title ' The Rape Of The Lock' is appropriate to the all concept of the poem, which describes what happens with the hair of the Belinda.