Chesterton said, "A good novel tells us the truth about its hero." The author of an epic has to keep many qualities in mind, but he focuses on telling a story about a hero and group of people. Some authors prefer the humorous aspect, so they write stories that mock epic; this is known as a mock epic. In Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock, the poet uses juxtaposition to create his satire.

             To place something serious next to something tribial is to juxtapose. Pope uses juxtaposition throughout his poem to show the mindless behavior of the rich. He comments on their conversation: "A third interprets motions, looks and eyes; at every word a reputation dies." Pope explains that the aristocratic people believe their conversation is intelligent, but they are actually discussing meaningless gossip. In the battle for the lock, Clarissa, who also loves the baron, hands the baron a pair of scissors as if it were a battle sword like in a classic epic. "So ladies in romance assist their knight, present the spear, and arm him for the fight. He takes the gift with reverence, and extends the little engine on his fingers ends." It is traditional for a woman to receive china when she gets married. This china is very sentimental and priceless. Pope says of Belinda's anger: "Or when rich china vessel fallen from high, in glittering dust and painted fragments lie. Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine (the victor cried), the glorious prize is mine:" When the baron cuts Belinda's lock, she is just as upset as if someone shattered her fine china. At the end of the epic, the remarkable, but worthless, lock of curl transcends in to heaven with other valueless things that the rich thought of as priceless. "these hero's wits are kept in ponderous vases, and beau's in snuff boxes and tweezer cases.".

             The mock-heroic style makes a petty subject appear ridiculous by using dignified language to describe an ordinary event.