Alexander Pope Essay - 6204 Words

The Rape of the Lock Context Alexander Pope was born in London in 1688. As a Roman Catholic living during a time of Protestant consolidation in England, he was largely excluded from the university system and from political life, and suffered certain social and economic disadvantages because of his religion as well. He was self-taught to a great extent, and was an assiduous scholar from a very early age. He learned several languages on his own, and his early verses were often imitations of poets he admired. His obvious talent found encouragement from his father, a linen-draper, as well as from literary-minded friends. At the age of twelve, Pope contracted a form of tuberculosis that settled in his spine, leaving him stunted and†¦show more content†¦After the publication of The Rape of the Lock, Pope spent many years translating the works of Homer. During the ten years he devoted to this arduous project, he produced very few new poems of his own but refined his taste in literature (and his moral, social, and political opinions) to an incredible degree. When he later recommenced to write original poetry, Pope struck a more serious tone than the one he gave to The Rape of the Lock. These later poems are more severe in their moral judgments and more acid in their satire: Popes Essay on Man is a philosophical poem on metaphysics, ethics, and human nature, while in the Dunciad Pope writes a scathing exposà © of the bad writers and pseudo-intellectuals of his day. Characters Belinda - Belinda is based on the historical Arabella Fermor, a member of Popes circle of prominent Roman Catholics. Robert, Lord Petre (the Baron in the poem) had precipitated a rift between their two families by snipping off a lock of her hair. The Baron - This is the pseudonym for the historical Robert, Lord Petre, the young gentleman in Popes social circle who offended Arabella Fermor and her family by cutting off a lock of her hair. In the poems version of events, Arabella is known as Belinda. Caryl - The historical basis for the Caryl character is John Caryll, a friend of Pope and of the two families that had becomeShow MoreRelatedThe Life of Alexander Pope859 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"An honest mans the noblest work of God.† Alexander Pope life was rough as a child because of his illness. In his early career, and even later in life he wrote a lot of famous poets. Alexander Pope lived his life as a famous writer until death from his childhood sickness Alexander Pope an, English poet was born on May 21, 1688 on Lombard Street in London. His father, Alexander Pope, a Roman Catholic, was a linen-draper who afterwards retired from business with a small fortune, and fixed his homeRead MoreAlexander Pope and Women Essay example1658 Words   |  7 PagesAlexander Pope may have been the adversary of female behavior the extent of this has long been in question. The writer’s satirical style towards the women of his era is evidence of his opinions. However, there are noticeable facts that generate a swaying effect on Pope’s views and the meaning of The Rape of the Lock. These details consist of the author’s personal life and symbolism contained in his mock epic poem, including the voices of Bella and Clarissa, which is an indication that he may notRead MoreRape of the Lock by Alexander Pope Essay596 Words   |  3 PagesRape of the Lock by Alexander Pope Alexander Popes The Rape of the Lock is not studied and admired only because of its style and form, but also for its base content and underlying themes. Popes ability to manipulate text into mock-heroic form, constructing a flow of satirical description is what makes this poem one of such quality. The piece was first published in 1712 by the request of Popes friend, John Caryll. It was to make peace between the Fermors and Petres, two prominent RomanRead MoreAlexander Pope and Christianity1360 Words   |  6 PagesChristianity in Essay on Man Alexander Pope is an eighteenth century writer who spent most of his life suffering. He had a rare form of tuberculosis which left him in constant pain. As a result of this disease, he never grew very tall. He was only about four and a half feet tall and he also experienced migraines (Greenblatt 2714). Despite all of Pope’s impediments, he managed to write Essay on Man which portrays an extremely optimistic outlook on life. Although Pope says that he â€Å"avoids all specificallyRead More Alexander Pope Essay1284 Words   |  6 Pages Alexander Pope nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The differences between eighteenth-century literature and romantic poems, with respect to history is constituted here. This is seen through the influential works of John Keats and Alexander Pope. These works are acknowledged as, quot;The Rape of Lockquot; and quot;The Eve of St. Agnes.quot; Alexander Pope takes his readers on a hatred filled epic. A robust piece of literature and love induced psychoses in, quot;The Rape of Lock.quot; On the otherRead MoreThe Rape Of Lock By Alexander Pope1448 Words   |  6 Pages A mock epic is an extended narrative poem in an elevated or dignified language that celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. In Alexander Pope’s, The Rape of Lock, his poem is a mock epic, not only because it is a long narrative poem; but his work consists in a series of events and revolves around beauty over brains. This mock epic satirizes not only sylphs, but also satirizes a woman’s ability to think logically than emotionally. The Rape of Lock is considered to be a mock epicRead MoreAn Essay On Man By Alexander Pope1265 Words   |  6 Pagesargues that social norms have a greater strong-hold on morality than the drive for economics, though they both do drive humans. In â€Å"An Essay on Man† by Alexander Pope, Pope suggests to readers that morality and economics are linked to God’s plan for every human being. The relationship between economics and morality are explored by Hobbes, Locke, and Pope throughout their respective works. Hobbes combines morality and economics by tackling the innate qualities of human beings. According to Hobbes, humansRead MoreAnalysis Of The Rape Of The Lock By Alexander Pope1134 Words   |  5 Pagesthe lives of everyday people? Words can wound, words can heal, but most importantly, words have purpose. To Alexander Pope, writing critical satire was worth being called a â€Å"hump-backed toad† (Cody). Even though Alexander Pope was only four and a half feet tall due to his medical problems, his words made him a giant that left his footprint in the writing world (â€Å"Alexander Pope†). Alexander Pope uses brilliant, biting satire in The Rape of the Lock to effectively point out the vices in 18th century EnglandRead MorePope Alexander was a Beautiful Writer643 Words   |  3 PagesAlexander Pope – a poet, landscape gardener, translator, and a satirist – is a famous public figure of the Enlightenment Era. One of his famous satire s would be â€Å"An Essay on Criticism† where Pope rebukingly criticizes people who wrongly criticize. The work of a satire which has a blend of humor and wit for the improvement of humanity and the use of these characteristics were a very popular way of writing literature in the EnlightenmentRead MoreAlexander Pope s The Rape Of The Lock1340 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature. Nonetheless, the themes and archetypes of these works known as epics are so well-known, that they are even parodied, take completely out of context, and pasted on the wall for laughs. One of the most recognized parodies of this kind would be Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock. The Rape of the Lock is a story about taking a minor incident and satirizing it by making it into a huge and important epic of divine proportions. One might think of the phrase â€Å"a tempest in a teapot†, which perfectly