The Rape of the Lock
夺发记
By Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
1. Introduction: The Mock-Epic
At the beginning of "The Rape of the Lock", Pope identifies the work as a “heroi-comical poem.” Today, the poem–and others like it–is referred to as a mock-epic and sometimes as a mock-heroic. Such a work parodies高冷的个性签名仿作 the rious, elevated style of the classical epic poem–such as The Iliad or The Odysy, by Homer–to poke fun at human follies. Thus, a mock-epic is a type of satire; it treats petty humans or insignificant occurrences as if they were extraordinary or heroic, like the great heroes and events of Homer's two great epics. In writing "The Rape of the Lock" Pope imitated the characteristics of Homer's epics, as well as later epics such as The Aeneid (Vergil), The Divine Comedy学习之道 (Dante), and Paradi Lost (Milton). Many of the characteristics are listed below, under "Epic Conventions."
2. Setting
The action takes place in London and its environs in the early 1700's on a single day. The story begins at noon (Canto I) at the London residence of Belinda as she carefully prepares herlf for a gala盛会 social gathering. The scene then shifts (Canto II) to a boat carrying Belinda up the Thames. To onlookers she is as magnificent as Queen Cleopatra was when she traveled in her barge. The rest of the story (Cantos III-V) takes place where Belinda debarks下船–Hampton Court Palace, a former residence of King Henry VIII on the outskirts of London–except for a brief scene in Canto IV that takes place in the cave of the Queen of Spleen.
3. Characters
Belinda: Beautiful young lady with wondrous hair, two locks of which hang gracefully in curls.
The Baron: Young admirer of Belinda who plots to cut off one of her locks.
Ariel: Belinda's guardian sylph (supernatural creature).
Clarissa: Young lady who gives the Baron scissors.
Umbriel: Sprite who enters the cave of the Queen of Spleen to ek help for Belinda.
Queen of Spleen:boy的复数>红旗谱读后感 Underworld goddess who gives Umbriel gifts for Belinda.
Thalestris: Friend of Belinda. Thalestris urges Sir Plume to defend Belinda's honor.
Sir Plume:荞麦花开白雪香 Beau of Thalestris. He scolds the Baron.
Sylphs, Fairies, Genies, Demons, Phantoms and Other Supernatural Creatures
4. Source: A Real-Life Incident
风热是什么意思Pope bad The Rape of the Lock on an actual incident in which a British nobleman, Lord Petre, cut off a lock of hair dangling tantalizingly令人着急地from th
e head of the beautiful Arabella Fermor. Petre’s daring theft of the lock t off a battle royal between the Petre and Fermor families. John Caryll–a friend of Pope and of the warring families–persuaded the great writer to pen a literary work satirizing the absurdity荒谬 and silliness of the dispute. The result was one of the greatest satirical poems in all of literature. In writing the poem, Pope also drew upon ancient classical sources–notably Homer’s great epics, The Iliad and The Odysy–as models to imitate in style and tone. He also consulted the texts of medieval and Renaissance epics.
5. Plot Summary
Pope opens with a statement announcing the topic of his poem: A gentleman – a lord, in fact–has committed a terrible outrage against a gentlewoman, causing her to reject him. What was this offen? Why did it incite刺激 such anger in the lady?
The woman in question is named Belinda. She is sleeping late one day in her London home when a sylph 低血糖能治好吗– a dainty精巧的 spirit that inhabits the air–warns her t
hat “I saw, alas! some dread Event impend.” The sylph, named Ariel, does not know what this event is or where or how it will manifest itlf. But he does tell Belinda to be on guard against the machinations of men. 查找重复项
Belinda ris and prepares herlf for a social gathering, sitting before a mirror and prettying herlf with “puffs and powders” and scenting herlf with “all Arabia.” Afterward, she travels up the Thames River to the site of the social festivities, Hampton Court, the great palace on the north bank of the river that in earlier times was home to King Henry VIII. As she sits in the boat, “Fair Nymphs, and well-drest Youths around her shone, / But ev'ry Eye was fix'd on her alone.” In other words, she was beautiful beyond measure. She smiled at everyone equally, and her eyes–bright suns–radiated goodwill. Especially endearing to anyone who looked upon her were her wondrous tress: 一束头发
This Nymph, to the Destruction of Mankind,
Nourish'd two Locks which graceful hung behind
In equal Curls, and well conspir'd to deck
With shining Ringlets the smooth Iv'ry Neck.
Among Belinda’s admirers is a young baron at Hampton Court awaiting her arrival. He has resolved to snip off a lock of her hair as the trophy of trophies. Before dawn, before even the sun god Phoebus Apollo aro, the Baron had been planning the theft of a lock of Belinda's hair. To win the favor of the gods, he had lighted an altar fire and, lying face down before it, prayed for success.
After Belinda arrives at Hampton Court with her company of friends, the partygoers play Ombre, a popular card game in which only 40 of the 52 cards are dealt--the eights, nines, and tens are held back. It appears that the Baron will win the game after his knave of diamonds captures her queen of hearts. However, Belinda yet has hope, even after the Baron plays an ace of hearts:
