The Rape of the Lock

Alexander Pope

1. What type of writing is “The Rape of the Lock"?

Ans: “The Rape of the Lock" is a mock epic poem.

2. What is mock-epic?

Ans: Mock epic is a narrative poem which aims at creating mockery and laughter by making the parody of almost all the characteristics of an epic. 

3. What is the source of “The Rape of the Lock"?

Ans: The source of “The Rape of the Lock” is an actual incident in which a British nobleman, Lord Petre, cut off a lock of hair from the head of beautiful Arabella Fermor.

4. Whom does Pope address as the muse in 'The Rape of the Lock'? [NU 2016]

Ans: Pope addresses Caryll, a friend of Alexander Pope, as the muse in The Rape of the lock.

5. Who had suggested Pope the theme of “The Rape of the Lock”?

Ans: Mr. Caryll, a friend of Alexander Pope, suggested him the theme of “The Rape of the Lock”.

6. How is Belinda's sleeping habit?

Ans: Belinda goes to bed late and rises late at midday.

7. How does Belinda wake up from her sleep?

Ans: Belinda wakes up from her sleep after the sun rays enter into her room and disturb her by falling on her eyes.

8. What is the name of the lapdog of Belinda? [NU 2014, 2017]

Ans: The name of the lapdog of Belinda is Shock.

9. Who is Belinda’s guardian sylph?

Ans: Belinda's guardian sylph is Ariel who tries to protect her from all dangers.

10. Mention the four kinds of spirits in "The Rape of the Lock".

Ans: The four kinds of spirits mentioned in "The Rape of the Lock" are Sylphs, Nymphs, Gnomes and Salamanders. 

11. Who are Nymphs?

Ans: Nymphs are female spirits of the natural world, minor goddesses of the forests, rivers, springs, meadows, mountains and seas. Light-hearted coquettes are changed into sylphs after their death. 

12. Who are called Gnomes?

Ans: Graver natured women who pass into earth after their death are called Gnomes.

13. Who is Ariel? [NU 2015, 2017]

Ans: Ariel is Belinda's guardian sylph.

14. What was the sole duty of Ariel?

Ans: The sole duty of Ariel was to protect Belinda from all dangers.

15. Who are called sylphs?

Ans: The women who pass into air after death are called Sylphs.  

16. Who was the chief of the sylphs?

Ans: Ariel who tries to protect Belinda from all dangers was the chief of the sylphs. 

17. Who was helping Belinda in her toilet?

Ans: Visibly Betty, Belinda’s maid, and invisibly a group of sylphs were helping Belinda in her toilet.

18. How did Belinda behave towards her admirers?

Ans: Belinda often rejected her admirers very politely and never hurt any of them.

19. How was Belinda's beauty enhanced?

Ans: Belinda's beauty was enhanced by using ornaments and layers of cosmetics. Her beauty was also enhanced by two locks which graceful hung behind in equal curls. 

20. How are the eyes of Belinda?

Ans: The eyes of Belinda are capable of eclipsing the day.

21. Who was the Baron?

Ans: Baron was Lord Petre who proposed Belinda and afterwards cut her lock.

22. What was Baron's plan about the locks?

Ans: Baron's plan about the locks was to cut one of the locks of Belinda by hook or by crook.

23. What did the Lord build to worship?

Ans: The Lord built an altar of love to worship. The altar consisted of twelve gilded French romances of enormous size. 

24. What is Ombre?

Ans: Ombre is a game of cards played among three players. Each of the players has to deal with nine cards.

25. What was the result of the game played by Belinda?

Ans: Belinda won the game.

26. Who arms the Baron with a pair of scissors? [NU 2016]

Ans: Clarissa arms the Baron with a pair of scissors.

27. What happened to Belinda after she had lost her lock?

Ans: After Belinda had lost her lock, living lightnings flashed from her eyes and her “screams of horror rend th’ affrighted skies”.  

28. Who is Umbriel? [NU 2014]

Ans: Umbriel is an earthy gnome that flies down to the “Cave of Spleen” and brings sobs and tears for Belinda.

29. Where did the goddess of spleen live? [NU 2012]

Ans: The goddess of Spleen lived in a gloomy cave in the centre of the earth.

30. Who were waiting on the goddess Spleen? [NU 2013]

Ans: Two hand maidens named Ill-Nature and Affectation were waiting on the goddess Spleen.

31. What did Umbriel tell the goddess Spleen?

Ans: Umbriel told the goddess of Spleen about Belinda and described the whole situation.

32. What does the bag given by the goddess Spleen to Umbriel contain? [NU 2016]

Ans: The bag given by the goddess Spleen to Umbriel contains “sighs, sobs, and passions”.

33. Who is Clarissa?

Ans: In ‘The Rape of the Lock’, Clarissa is one of Belinda’s acquaintances. She wonders openly at the vanity of women and the foolishness of men.

34. What did Clarissa tell us about women's good sense?

Ans: Clarissa told us about women's good sense that if women didn’t have any good sense, all honour achieved by beauty would become meaningless.

35. What did Sir Plume do in the battle?

Ans: During the battle, Sir Plume “draw[s] Clarissa down,” suggesting a sexual act rather than the striking down of an enemy. 

36. How did the poet console Belinda?

Ans: The poet consoled Belinda that one day she will die but her lock will become immortal by the help of the muse of poetry.

37. What did Jove hold up?

Ans: Jove holds up his golden scales to weigh men’s wits against lady's hair. 

38. What do the scales show in "The Rape of the Lock"? [NU 2013]

Ans: In "The Rape of the Lock", the scales show that women's hair is heavier than the wits of men and so the women should win.

39. Who are Salamanders? [NU 2012]

Ans: Salamanders are the souls of fairies who can pass into the fire.

40. What is Belinda’s lock of hair turned into? [NU 2014]

Ans: Belinda’s lock of hair is turned into a constellation of stars.

41. What is Hampton Court? [NU 2012, 2017]

Ans: Hampton Court is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.