question

Exulting

answer

rejoicing

question

Repast

answer

meal

question

Desist

answer

stop

question

Recesses

answer

secluded or hidden places

question

Titillating

answer

exciting; stimulating

question

Dejects

answer

casts down; dispirits

question

Nymphs

answer

young ladies

question

Snuff

answer

powdered tobacco product sniffed or rubbed on the teeth and gums

question

Omber

answer

card game for three players, popular in the eighteenth century

question

Berries

answer

coffee beans

question

While The Rape of the Lock was intended to mock the pretentious behavior of the English upper class, Pope accomplished his intention by adopting a humorous tone in the poem. In a short essay, identify and explain how various lines and passages in the poem contribute to this humorous tone.

answer

Responses to this question may vary, but possible segments of the poem that may be analyzed for humor are Belinda's antic conquests during the game of omber (lines 28-29), Belinda's reaction to the baron's winning hand (lines 89-92), the baron's cry of triumph after he cuts the lock of Belinda's hair (lines 161-178), or the ascent of the lock to the heavens (lines 69-88).

question

"At last, I've clipped a lock of her beautiful hair!" the Baron said, ________ over his good fortune.

answer

exulting

question

"Now that I've achieved my goal," said the Baron, "let us withdraw to enjoy a glorious _______"

answer

Repast

question

In Canto V of The Rape of the Lock, Belinda and the baron exchange words about the stolen lock of hair (lines 51-56). Why did Pope include a conversation between Belinda and the baron in this section? In your answer, cite one or two examples from the poem to support your response.

answer

The conversation emphasizes the preposterous nature of the conflict between Belinda and the baron. They speak to each other as if they are at war with each other (lines 50-59).

question

In the last lines of Canto V of The Rape of the Lock, the lock of hair is described as ascending into heaven behind a "sudden star" (line 77). How does Pope mock the conflict that exists between Belinda and the baron through his description of the lock's ascent to the heavens (lines 75-88)? Cite examples from the poem to support your response.

answer

Sample answer: The heavenly ascent of the lock mocks the romantic intrigues around which Belinda's life has revolved (lines 83-88).

question

How do you think Alexander Pope viewed the people who were the real-life subjects of his poem? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

answer

Students' responses will vary. A sample response follows: Pope's tone is affectionately mocking of the foibles of the upper classes, and his wit, like the Baron's scissors, has a double edge. He glorifies the wealthy and insults them, but he does so in such a balanced way that it is not clear which view is most prominent. This ambiguity ensures that the audience members—the very target of his wit—will be confused, not knowing whether to feel flattered or insulted by this description of their triviality. The sections in the text that seem most critical of society are found in the introductory passages, where Pope comments freely on topics such as politics and the law. Though Pope may not have lent much weight to the silly quarrel that inspired this work, he must have cared very deeply for the people involved. If he didn't, he wouldn't have spent so much time writing the poem. He must have known them well, for his approach brought them to their senses and averted a serious falling out.

question

Much attention is paid to the stolen lock of hair in The Rape of the Lock; it is the source of intrigue and conflict throughout the poem. In one or two paragraphs, analyze what this lock of hair represents in the poem. Cite examples from The Rape of the Lock to support your response.

answer

The lock represents the pettiness of English society. He expresses his disdain for this pettiness through his mocking descriptions of the commotion made over the theft of the lock, the baron's obsession with it, and the lock's ascent to heaven.

question

The Rape of the Lock is based upon an actual incident that took place in London during Alexander Pope's lifetime. Pope was careful to keep the tone of the poem light. His aim was not to brutalize the upper class for their pretensions but rather to point those pretensions out and perhaps to get members of the upper class to laugh along with him. Give examples that demonstrate the light nature of the poem. How do the examples reveal the author's purpose?

answer

Students may point out that the poet introduces gods, goddesses, and spirits that have a hand in what happens in the poem. This conceit deflects blame for the silly behavior away from Belinda and her cohorts and onto nonhuman creatures. The poet also presents the characters as overly grand rather than ordinary; their deeds are described as heroic rather than petty. Pope could just as easily have written an embittered, brutal attack. Instead he simply points out absurdities by exaggerating the situation until it becomes comic.

question

In The Rape of the Lock, Pope adapts the style of the epic poem to present a mockery of social matters that he considers to be petty. In a short essay, identify the elements of the true epic that Pope uses to structure his mock epic, and explain how he incorporates these elements. Cite examples from the poem to support your response.

answer

Student responses should indicate that in the same way that a true epic involves gods and goddesses, Pope incorporates sylphs and sprites into his mock epic. To further imitate the elevated style of the true epic, Pope also describes the card game in terms of a bloody battle and portrays Belinda's actions as heroic. Examples cited should support these elements.

question

In The Rape of the Lock, Canto III, the players stop to drink coffee. During this break, the baron manages to cut a lock of Belinda's hair. Explain how the baron managed to cut the lock of Belinda's hair (lines 120-154).

answer

Sample answer: Clarissa gives the baron a pair of scissors (lines 127-130). The baron attempts to cut a lock of hair from behind Belinda's head while Belinda bends over to sip a cup of coffee (lines 133-134). He makes three attempts to cut her hair; each time, because of the distractions of sprites, Belinda looks over her shoulder just as the baron is about to cut the lock from her hair (135-138). On his fourth attempt, the baron successfully cuts the lock of hair from Belinda's head because the sylph does not prevent it (lines 144-154).

question

The sylphs try to prevent —

answer

the theft of the lock

question

The tone of Pope's mock epic could best be described as —

answer

...

question

Which of the following is a characteristic of a true epic?

answer

elevated style

question

Alexander Pope's purpose for writing The Rape of the Lock was to

answer

poke fun at the spoiled upper classes.

question

Which of the following characterizes a true epic and is seen in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

impossible events

question

Which of the following best describes the overall feeling that Pope meant to convey in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

affectionately mocking

question

The title The Rape of the Lock refers to the —

answer

theft of a lock of Belinda's hair

question

In The Rape of the Lock, when the baron cries out that the glorious prize is his, he refers to

answer

the hairs he has snipped from Belinda's head.

question

A central theme of The Rape of the Lock is the

answer

pettiness of the nobility.

question

What happens to the lock?

answer

It rises into the stars.

question

Alexander Pope's purpose for writing The Rape of the Lock was to

answer

poke fun at the spoiled upper classes.

question

Which of the following statements best describes the point Pope makes in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

The rich have too much time on their hands and not enough to think about.

question

In The Rape of the Lock, when the baron cries out that the glorious prize is his, he refers to

answer

the hairs he has snipped from Belinda's head.

question

During the fight between Belinda and the Baron, —

answer

Belinda throws snuff at the Baron

question

The tone of Pope's mock epic could best be described as —

answer

lofty yet gently satirical

question

A central theme of The Rape of the Lock is the

answer

pettiness of the nobility.

question

Which of the following best describes the overall feeling that Pope meant to convey in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

affectionately mocking

question

In The Rape of the Lock, with what weapon does Belinda defeat the baron?

answer

a large pinch of snuff

question

The title The Rape of the Lock refers to the —

answer

theft of a lock of Belinda's hair

question

What happens to the lock?

answer

It rises into the stars.

question

Which of the following best describes the overall feeling that Pope meant to convey in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

affectionately mocking

question

Which of the following characterizes a true epic and is seen in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

impossible events

question

Which of the following is a characteristic of a true epic?

answer

elevated style

question

In The Rape of the Lock, when the baron cries out that the glorious prize is his, he refers to

answer

the hairs he has snipped from Belinda's head

question

Which of the following statements best describes the point Pope makes in The Rape of the Lock?

answer

The rich have too much time on their hands and not enough to think about.

question

In The Rape of the Lock, with what weapon does Belinda defeat the baron?

answer

a large pinch of snuff

question

A central theme of The Rape of the Lock is the

answer

pettiness of the nobility.

question

The word desist means to

answer

stop

question

What happens to the lock?

answer

It rises into the stars.

question

The title The Rape of the Lock refers to the —

answer

theft of a lock of Belinda's hair

question

Alexander Pope's purpose for writing The Rape of the Lock was to

answer

poke fun at the spoiled upper classes.

question

During the fight between Belinda and the Baron, —

answer

Belinda throws snuff at the Baron

question

In The Rape of the Lock, how is the card game of omber presented as a war? (lines 25-44) Support your answer with one or two examples from the poem.

answer

The objective of omber is described in terms of conquest (line 27-28). The faces of the cards are described as soldiers (lines 39-44). The cards of Belinda's opponents in this game are described as "armies" (line 65). The capture of cards is described in terms of war casualties (lines 69-74).

question

In Canto V of The Rape of the Lock, Belinda and the baron exchange words about the stolen lock of hair (lines 51-56). Why did Pope include a conversation between Belinda and the baron in this section? In your answer, cite one or two examples from the poem to support your response.

answer

The conversation emphasizes the preposterous nature of the conflict between Belinda and the baron. They speak to each other as if they are at war with each other (lines 50-59).

question

"Now that I've achieved my goal," said the Baron, "let us withdraw to enjoy a glorious ____."

answer

repast

question

In the last lines of Canto V of The Rape of the Lock, the lock of hair is described as ascending into heaven behind a "sudden star" (line 77). How does Pope mock the conflict that exists between Belinda and the baron through his description of the lock's ascent to the heavens (lines 75-88)? Cite examples from the poem to support your response.

answer

The heavenly ascent of the lock mocks the romantic intrigues around which Belinda's life has revolved (lines 83-88).

question

"In the deepest _____ of my heart," Alexander Pope wondered, "do I really care about the Baron and Belinda and her lock of silly hair?"

answer

recesses

question

While The Rape of the Lock was intended to mock the pretentious behavior of the English upper class, Pope accomplished his intention by adopting a humorous tone in the poem. In a short essay, identify and explain how various lines and passages in the poem contribute to this humorous tone

answer

humor are Belinda's antic conquests during the game of omber (lines 28-29), Belinda's reaction to the baron's winning hand (lines 89-92), the baron's cry of triumph after he cuts the lock of Belinda's hair (lines 161-178), or the ascent of the lock to the heavens (lines 69-88).

question

"Oh woe, how the loss of this lock of hair _____ me!" moaned Belinda.

answer

dejects

question

Much attention is paid to the stolen lock of hair in The Rape of the Lock; it is the source of intrigue and conflict throughout the poem. In one or two paragraphs, analyze what this lock of hair represents in the poem. Cite examples from The Rape of the Lock to support your response.

answer

The lock represents the pettiness of English society. He expresses his disdain for this pettiness through his mocking descriptions of the commotion made over the theft of the lock, the baron's obsession with it, and the lock's ascent to heaven.

question

The Rape of the Lock is based upon an actual incident that took place in London during Alexander Pope's lifetime. Pope was careful to keep the tone of the poem light. His aim was not to brutalize the upper class for their pretensions but rather to point those pretensions out and perhaps to get members of the upper class to laugh along with him. Give examples that demonstrate the light nature of the poem. How do the examples reveal the author's purpose?

answer

the poet introduces gods, goddesses, and spirits that have a hand in what happens in the poem. This conceit deflects blame for the silly behavior away from Belinda and her cohorts and onto nonhuman creatures. The poet also presents the characters as overly grand rather than ordinary; their deeds are described as heroic rather than petty. Pope could just as easily have written an embittered, brutal attack. Instead he simply points out absurdities by exaggerating the situation until it becomes comic.

question

In The Rape of the Lock, Pope adapts the style of the epic poem to present a mockery of social matters that he considers to be petty. In a short essay, identify the elements of the true epic that Pope uses to structure his mock epic, and explain how he incorporates these elements. Cite examples from the poem to support your response.

answer

a true epic involves gods and goddesses, Pope incorporates sylphs and sprites into his mock epic. To further imitate the elevated style of the true epic, Pope also describes the card game in terms of a bloody battle and portrays Belinda's actions as heroic. Examples cited should support these elements.

Mock Epic: from TheRape of the Lock – Flashcards

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