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The Rape of the Lock

by Alexander Pope

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The Rape of the Lock

In "The Rape of the Lock," Alexander Pope uses satire to critique the superficiality and trivialities of 18th-century aristocratic society. Through exaggerated depictions and humorous commentary,...

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The Rape of the Lock

In the first line of "The Rape of the Lock," "Muse" refers to one of the seven Greek mythological sisters responsible for inspiring arts and sciences. Pope invokes the Muse to parody traditional...

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The Rape of the Lock

The lines from Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" suggest that once people decide to engage in wrongdoing, they quickly find the means to do so. This is illustrated by the Baron's determination to cut a...

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The Rape of the Lock

The elaborate descriptions of weapons and battle in "The Rape of the Lock" parody real epic battles by substituting them with social conflicts. Belinda's beauty and vanity, along with her petticoats,...

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The Rape of the Lock

When we compare the satire of Pope and Swift, we find many similarities in the way they satirize the poem's subject. Each poet praises his subject, then switches to satire. The poets use traditional...

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The Rape of the Lock

The line highlights the perception of women as frivolous and easily led astray, but suggests that sylphs, or ethereal spirits, guide them through life's complexities. In Alexander Pope's The Rape of...

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