... of the classical epic; the invocation of a deity, a regular statement of theme, the division of the work into books and cantos, ostentatious speeches, battles and supernatural machinery; to reveal the absurdity of a certain subject. The main consequence of utilizing the style of an epic is, however, not so much to have fun with the epic, but to deflate a subject or characters that by contrast appear exceptionally insignificant. One of the best examples of a Mock Epic is Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock ... . Pope uses highly refined verses, pungent satirical heroic couplets, and int...

• Word Count: 1581
• Approx Pages: 6

"The Rape of Lock" by Alexander Pope is the most perfect example of mock-epic genre. The poem functions as a satire on interesting facts of fashionable life. The Rape of the Lock was written because of a brawl between two Roman Catholic families, the Fermors, and the Petres caused by an irrelevant incident: (when the Baron cuts off a lock of Belinda's hair). The main protagonist is Belinda and she acts as an epic hero. Pope's way of satirizing the fashionable society and its non ... -serious values is represented in the style of an epic poem, through the use of familiar epic devices. In the be...

• Word Count: 775
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... by casting it against the grandeur of the tradition epic subjects and bravery and fortitude of epic heroes; The ritual of a real sacrifice is transplanted to a dressing table and the altar of love. "The inferior Priestless, at her altar side, Trembling, begins the sacred Rites of Pride." Pope's continuous mock-heroic treatment in Rape of the Lock combines both the "affection" and "disarray", Mack describes, into the undercurrent of his writings; it underscores the ridiculousness of society in which values ... lose all proportion and trivia is handled with gravity that ought to be accord...

• Word Count: 1233
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... were clearly shown in his writing. The criticism of Pope's satirical work was always very clear and in good taste. In The Rape of the Lock, Pope did not come out straight out and criticize the two families for blowing the situation out of proportion. Instead he symbolized the event into a comical-heroic poem to two families recognize the absurdity of the feud. The Rape of the Lock shows why most everyone had the utmost respect for Alexander Pope. On ... the other hand, Jonathan Swift represented the complete opposite of what Pope did. Swift did what ... ...

• Word Count: 392
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School