The Rape of the Lock Response

   To me, the Rape of the Lock is kind of incomprehensible. After finish reading two Cantos, I still don’t understand what’s really going on throughout the whole story. The only thing I know is that the Baron stole a lock of Belinda’s hair, and she was furious about it. Although there were sylphs trying to warn Belinda from being attacked by the scissors, it was unsuccessful. At last, the lock of hair rose to the sky and became the star, which symbolized for Belinda’s lasting fame. I think the reason I don’t understand the story might be the language being used, which is in between modern and old English. Thus, it’s difficult for me to find out the significance of this famous mock epic, the technique of juxtaposes that Pope used, and the flirtatious affair that Pope is trying to satirize. As for result, I don’t really know how to connect the satires used in this mock epic to the events that happened in the world we’re living now.

Candide Question #10

10. An archetype is a pattern that has appeared in literature across cultures and times. A common archetype is the journey: A hero is thrust into a strange world to face dangers and wonders. How does this excerpt from Candide express the archetype of the journey?

        This excerpt from Candide expresses the archetype of the journey in ways that Candide is in harsh condition when he is expelled from the earthly paradise: he sleeps supperless between two furrows in the open fields, which snowed heavily in large flakes; moreover, the shivering Candide is penniless, dying of cold and exhaustion, and he halts sadly at the door of an inn. He is deceived and forced to join the military when two men notices him and said that they would not only pay his expenses, but would also never allow him to be short of money.

The Rape of the Lock Question

8. How does the poem apply to contemporary life? What passages could serve as satirical commentaries on people’s behavior today?

1.      How do the heroes of this mock epic differ from the conventional epic hero?

The heroes of this mock epic differ from the conventional epic hero in ways that heroes of this mock epic don’t encounter trials and accomplish challenging tasks.

2.      Why have “the heroes and the nymphs” fathered at Hampton Court?

The heroes and the nymphs fathered at Hampton Court because a party is held at the Court.

3.     What events serve as “epic battles”?

The event of Belinda playing card games with two other gentlemen and Belinda combating with the Baron demanding for the return of the lock serve as epic battles.

4.     Who and what is Pope mocking in this epic?

In this epic, Pope is mocking the young gentleman Rober, Lord Petre, who steals a lock of Arabella Fermor’s hair and set off a quarrel between the Fermor and the Petre families.

7.   In Canto III, line 86, Pope juxtaposes, or places side by side, dying

husbands and dying lapdogs. What is the effect of this juxtaposition? Find other surprising juxtapositions in the poem, and describe their effects.

l   The effect of this juxtaposition is that it shows royal residence as a place which both serious matters of state and frivolous social occasions happen.

l   There are other surprising juxtapositions, such as in Canto III, lines 1 to 8: at Hampton Court, statesmen discuss the fall of tyrants-and also of young ladies. Meanwhile, Queen Anne is sometimes served political counsel-and at other times, tea. The effect of this juxtaposition is the grandiose and the trivial; in Canto V, lines 49 to 58: even though the lock is gone forever, its very loss will ensure Belinda’s lasting fame. The effect of this placing is the short-lived and the eternity.

l   The poem applies to contemporary life in ways that the society of that time and the society existing now have lost proportion in valuing: trivial subject is given the attitude of gravity and solemnity, which shall be treated with truly important issues.

l   Passages that describe noble men and women having parties, card games, and affairs could serve as satirical commentaries on people’s behavior today.  

The Black Death

     “The Black Death,” also known as “The Plague” caused great amount of death during the 18^th century. It originated from mouse, which made its appearance especially in dirty, filthy environments. London at that time was having the Industrial Revolution, which made poor people even poorer, and the wealthy even richer. During that time, most people didn’t even have places to stay. They slept on streets and searched food on roads or trash cans. Combining the cold winter, the massive pollution, and bad hygiene, mice came along. Mice only made the already suffering condition even worse, thus there was “The Black Death.” With no treatments to cure this disease, the result was the death of lots of people.

What I know about the 18th century

   The Restoration was when the English monarchy restored its position, and it took place from 16^th century to 18^th century. In 18^th century, a significant event happened in England that would change the rest of the human history, which was the Industrial Revolution. During the Industrial Revolution, people no longer worked at homes. Instead, they moved to cities and worked in factories, which caused urbanization. Moreover, factories were built near where workers lived so that it was more convenient for them. What concerned to factory owners the most was how they could make the greatest profit by only using the least cost. They didn’t care about how workers lived, thus workers’ rights were deprived of. Moreover, children were employed to do jobs such as cleaning machines or delivering components. Children might get crippled due to accidents, but the factory owners still wouldn’t care about these children. They would only think that it’s the children’s own fault for not being careful.

Verbal Irony

    Swift uses irony throughout the whole proposal: he satirizes how English landlords abuse Irish family and he suggests that the solution to solving the poverty problem in Ireland is through eating infants at age one. The reason this is an irony is the writer doesn’t actually mean what he writes. As for result of eating babies, the Irish family would get a new food source, social problems would get eliminated, and there would be less Catholics. With the reduction of Catholics, Swift is satirizing Protestants’ prejudice toward Catholics. In addition, Swift also satirizes the Irish for accepting all the bad treatments they receive rather than rebelling against the English landlords.

Retreat of the ‘tiger mother’

   After her controversial article was published, Chua receives many criticizes via e-mail or comments on the newspaper’s Web site. As this article mentions, Chua is just writing a memoir rather than parenting guide, so I think people shouldn’t judge her so harshly. Every household has different methods of raising children, and some are more kind, some are more demanding on academic achievement. In addition, she is just writing her own story, people really don’t have to be so overreacted. Instead, people should just use the attitude of reading a novel to treat Amy Chua’s book. When Amy Chua said that her real crime is telling the truth, and people are not that honest about their parenting, I feel this is so true. How many parents can say they’re perfect that they have no fight with their children ever? I’ve never heard of and I think it’s impossible for not having any conflict with family members. Although Amy Chua’s parenting method might sometime be too excess, her children are thankful toward the way that Chua uses. As long as her children didn’t result in depression or unhappiness, other people really don’t have the right to say that Amy Chua is a “tiger mother.’