Summary:
Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock is a mock-heroic poem that satirizes the vanity and triviality of 18th-century aristocratic society. The poem, first published in 1712 and later revised in 1714, was inspired by a real-life incident where Lord Petre cut a lock of hair from Arabella Fermor without her consent, leading to a rift between their families.
The poem is divided into five cantos and follows Belinda, a beautiful young woman, who prepares for a social gathering. The supernatural “sylphs” protect her, but the Baron, enamored by her beauty, plots to steal a lock of her hair. During a card game at a party, he successfully cuts the lock, leading to an exaggerated conflict. Belinda is furious, and a mock-epic battle ensues. The poem ends with the lock ascending to the heavens, immortalized as a celestial object.
Pope’s work humorously critiques the superficial concerns of the aristocracy, using grand epic style to highlight the triviality of their disputes. Through satire, wit, and elegant verse, The Rape of the Lock remains a masterpiece of neoclassical poetry.
MCQs:
- Who is the author of this poem?
a) John Milton
b) Jonathan Swift
c) Alexander Pope
d) Samuel Johnson
Answer: c) Alexander Pope - What type of poem is this?
a) Tragedy
b) Epic
c) Mock-epic
d) Sonnet
Answer: c) Mock-epic - Who is the protagonist of the poem?
a) Arabella Fermor
b) Clarissa
c) Belinda
d) The Baron
Answer: c) Belinda
The Rape of the Lock - What is the main conflict in the poem?
a) A duel between knights
b) The theft of a lock of hair
c) A forbidden love affair
d) A political rivalry
Answer: b) The theft of a lock of hair - What supernatural beings protect Belinda?
a) Fairies
b) Sylphs
c) Ghosts
d) Nymphs
Answer: b) Sylphs - Who cuts Belinda’s lock of hair?
a) Ariel
b) Sir Plume
c) The Baron
d) Lord Petre
Answer: c) The Baron - What game do the characters play before the lock is stolen?
a) Chess
b) Ombre
c) Poker
d) Backgammon
Answer: b) Ombre - What happens to the lock of hair at the end of the poem?
a) It is returned to Belinda
b) It is lost in the chaos
c) It is placed in a locket
d) It ascends to the heavens
Answer: d) It ascends to the heavens - What literary device is prominently used in the poem?
a) Simile
b) Satire
c) Allegory
d) Tragedy
Answer: b) Satire - In what poetic form is this poem written?
a) Blank verse
b) Heroic couplets
c) Free verse
d) Terza rima
Answer: b) Heroic couplets
| Question | Answer |
| Poet | Alexander Pope |
| Year Published | 1712 (first version), 1714 (revised version) |
| Poem Type | Mock-epic |
| Rhyme Scheme | Heroic couplets (AABB) |
| Main Themes | Vanity, Satire, Aristocratic Society, Gender Roles |
| Main Characters | Belinda, The Baron, Ariel, Clarissa |
| Supernatural Elements | Sylphs (guardian spirits) |
| Setting | 18th-century England, high society gathering |
| Inspiration | Real-life incident between Lord Petre and Arabella Fermor |