Inspiration by Homer
Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" engages the reader by telling the tale of a beauteous young woman who has been terribly wronged when an amorous suitor purloins a lock of hair. He begins his tale with an introduction, an apology of sorts, to one Arabella Fermor.Pope makes light of the fairer sex, and indeed poets themselves, as he states " . . . for the ancient poets are in one respect like many modern ladies: let an action be never so trivial in itself, they always make it appear of the utmost importance" (492). In his web page titled "The Mock Epic as Genre," David Cody, Associate Professor of English, Hartwick College states, ". . . the Mock-Epic is a literary form that burlesques the Classical epic by bringing the formulas characteristic of the epic . . . to bear upon a trivial subject." First published anonymously in Lintot's Miscellany in May 1712, Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock"is a mock-epic which depicts vanity, pride, and the never ending battle between the sexes. Pope engages the classic formulas of an epic to depict a tale of a great injustice, the unforgivable theft of a single lock of hair. "The Rape of the Lock" burlesques elements of the epic in a variety of manners. The first elements encounte
It has been my experience that Alexander Pope writes nothing without a purpose. His every word rings heavily with underlying meaning. His satirical style has often been the voice of reason when viewing the follies of society."The Rape of the Lock" is no exception. A two-canto version first appeared in 1712 at the request of John Caryll. It seems that "The Rape of the Lock" had its origins in an actual incident in polite society. Arabella Fermor, to whom Pope addresses his letter of introduction, had suffered the loss of a lock of hair. The perpetrator of this violation was Robert, Lord Petre, one of Arabella's suitors. Apparently Arabella took offence and a quarrel resulted between the two families. John Caryll, a relative of Lord Petre, requested Pope to write a humorous poem about the episode in the hopes that the two families would reconcile. "The Raping of the Lock" appeared to have served its purpose. However, in 1714 Alexander Pope submitted an expanded and revised version of "The Rape of the Lock" which once again upset the Fermor family. Pope's extended version was more than a comic rendition of the incident. It was a commentary on the foolishness and trivial natures of polite society. (III. 26-27). Pope catalogs the cards in play, "Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand; And parti-colored troops, a shining train, Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain," in such a manner as Homer used to catalog the Achaian army. As each card is laid upon the table, Belinda feels the capitulation of her foes. "Now then men, dismiss for your meal, and let us make ready for battle," says Homer, "Sharpen your spears each man, look to your shields . . . let war be the word" (tr
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Approximate Word count = 1146
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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