Perhaps no other great poet in English Literature has been so differently judged at different times as Alexander Pope. Accepted almost on his first...
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May 08, 2010
Erik
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Mock-epic still has epic in it, right?
This was hilarious. Seriously. I started off trying to read it in my head, but found that I couldn't focus on what was being said well enough, so I decided to read it out loud. After that I found that reading it out loud only made it slightly easier. Looking for something completely new to try, I gave singing it a go. It worked. I was able to focus very clearly on what was happening.
The imagery was amaaaaaaaaaazing. There was a war i More...
This was hilarious. Seriously. I started off trying to read it in my head, but found that I couldn't focus on what was being said well enough, so I decided to read it out loud. After that I found that reading it out loud only made it slightly easier. Looking for something completely new to try, I gave singing it a go. It worked. I was able to focus very clearly on what was happening.
The imagery was amaaaaaaaaaazing. There was a war i More...
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Aug 06, 2010
Andreea
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I, like many other children born in the last two hundred years, have grown up reading stories by Comtesse de Ségur. Looking back, I share the popular opinion that compared with the Grimm Brothers or Arabian Nights the stories are dreadful, but books involving beauteous ethereal spirits and glitt'ring dressing-gowns still cause me a special kind of thrill. I don't know exactly why because I read and was read to quite a lot of fairy-tales when I was a child and don't regard others with the same sp
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Jan 02, 2012
Kryzia
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I had to read this for class. It was quite interesting. The language is quite different from the usual books I have read, leaving me to read slower than usual. I think the number one thing to keep in mind while reading this book is the context in which it was written. The time era is also very important. This book gave me quite a chuckle, to be honest. Just the fact that the author took such a simple subject and attempted to make it this intense and epic thing. But of course, that is why they ca
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Aug 25, 2011
Keely
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Compared to the Nineteenth Century's Romantic movement and the Seventeenth's Shakespeare and Milton, the Eighteenth was a near void. There was a little bit going on in France with Diderot and Voltaire, and some minor British works by Swift, Defoe, and Gay, but by and large, Eighteenth Century literature is Fielding and Pope.
He began with his inimitable wit and wordly mastery with 'An Essay on Criticism' when he was only 21. Four years later he added his contribution to the Epic Traditi More...
He began with his inimitable wit and wordly mastery with 'An Essay on Criticism' when he was only 21. Four years later he added his contribution to the Epic Traditi More...
Jan 26, 2012
Mirra
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I enjoyed reading this epic poem/book but by the end I was a bit confused with what was happening. Too many names were being thrown at me at once...but I bet if I had a physical copy in my hand instead of reading an online version it would not have been so difficult. It was fun to read outloud, the cadence was enjoyable...so basically I enjoyed the poetic journey but otherwise, it was not so much my cup of tea. If it was not for Austin's class assignment, I would not have read this at all.
May 04, 2011
Adamo
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Alexander Pope è uno dei poeti inglesi più amati e ammirati del suo secolo. Le poesie sulla natura e i saggi si studiano ancora oggi in tutte le università ma peccato che in libreria se vai a chiedere un suo libro ti ridono in faccia.
Così Adelphi ha pensato bene di pubblicare il Riccio Rapito ma costa 10 milioni e credetemi, il poemetto son manco 10 righe, non vale la pena a meno che non siate proprio cultori ma assai cultori. Così la BUR è una buona soluzione. Ebbene, il libro è come un q More...
Così Adelphi ha pensato bene di pubblicare il Riccio Rapito ma costa 10 milioni e credetemi, il poemetto son manco 10 righe, non vale la pena a meno che non siate proprio cultori ma assai cultori. Così la BUR è una buona soluzione. Ebbene, il libro è come un q More...
Oct 14, 2009
Katherine
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One of the more memorable and, in my opinion, applicable and useful pieces I read for my Early British Lit class. I might use it to teach a unit on beauty and vanity in a classroom. Because it is challenging, it definitely should be used in honors or AP classes for high school seniors or juniors (maybe sophomores). Maybe teach this with "Uglies" by Scott Westerfield? A great way to bring in a classic piece with a theme so relevant to today.
Mar 12, 2010
Mark
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I should have realized from the beginning that poems are not my cup of tea. Even though I managed to finish reading this book that consist of five cantos in one day, actually I failed to grasp what it's all about.
Thank goodness there's an introduction part which explained historical background of "The Rape of The Lock". Otherwise, I will be left in total darkness.
By the way, the only reason I bought this book was because it was discounted.
Thank goodness there's an introduction part which explained historical background of "The Rape of The Lock". Otherwise, I will be left in total darkness.
By the way, the only reason I bought this book was because it was discounted.
Aug 18, 2009
Kate
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I'd always been under the misconception that this was something about a rape. It's actually a parody! It turns some silly trivial event (similar to something we'd see today on some entertainment news TV show) into an overblown epic poem. It's about a girl of high society with curly hair who gets one of her curls cut off.
Oct 25, 2011
Hannah
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I had to read it twice, but this poem is very interesting. It brings many questions to mind about the society of the eighteenth century. Discussion on Pope's opinions and how they play our in the poem help to further some of the ideas presented in the poem.
Sep 21, 2011
Michael
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It was good, I definitely agree with some previous reviewers who said that it was easier to read if you read it out loud. Besides that it was a good read and even had some moments that really made me laugh.
Sep 08, 2009
Bryan
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Yes, yes, I know. All time great poet, etc. etc. I've had to read this multiple times for many classes, and the blatant, almost proudly flamboyant sexism is something I won't excuse.
Nov 13, 2011
Hawkgrrrl
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Who hasn't had an earthly lover lurking at her breast at one time or another? This is great satire, even though it is sufficiently archane to only appeal to comp lit majors.
Oct 13, 2010
Thumbelina-thighs
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One of my favourite works of all time!!! Cannot recommend it highly enough, hilarious and heart warming!
I want to do my masters degree on this bad boy ;)
I want to do my masters degree on this bad boy ;)
Nov 13, 2009
Janelle
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Women care very much for their self image and virtuous, untouched beauty. But to threaten to kill a man over cutting off a lock of hair, now that's justice.
Mar 01, 2009
Liam
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A brilliant rendering of epic themes to eighteenth century frivolity. Illustrations are suitably complex and sinister.
Oct 29, 2011
Nick
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A fairly abusive use of the heroic couplet, an insipid subject even considering the treatment, and too long by far.
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Sep 21, 2010
Kathryn
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Had to read it quickly for a class. Very amusing. Definitely something to read a second time for its intricacies.
Mar 01, 2011
George
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Brilliantly mocks the conventions of the epic poem while criticizing 18th century "polite" society.
Dec 15, 2009
Michele
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It's excellent, but what I love most is this edition with the illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley.
Sep 24, 2011
Daniel
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Pretty nice poem. Set in the reign of Queen Anne. Very burlesque in it's tone, hehe.
Dec 20, 2011
Jackie
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We read excerpts of this. It was...uh....interesting to say the least.
Aug 09, 2011
Ariana
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When I read this in college I thought it would be more exciting. Turns out to be some wonderful brainy stuff.
Dec 18, 2010
Faith
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Honestly, I hate Pope. And I can't stand The Rape of the Lock. I recognize that it's supposed to be funny and a mock epic, and see the humor value, but I just don't like it. I know that the language is ridiculous on purpose, and the main characters are repulsive by design, but I just can't handle it. I give it two stars because I *should* like it, haha.
Jun 30, 2010
Sachin
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A mock-heroic play giving insight into the high-class society of that time, which was constantly involved in petty things and was always troubled with and worried for the trivial affairs.
Feb 19, 2011
Kristin
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18th C. Print Culture. I'm glad to have finally read this poem! It wasn't at all what I expected, and I liked it quite a bit.
Apr 04, 2009
Erik
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We were ordered to read this thing in senior English. It was a bad choice. Perhaps our teacher thought we'd think it funny while appreciating how subtle our understanding had become by virtue of having read the classical sources which Pope imitates. Well, we could see how he was trying to be funny, but humor evolves with culture and no one laughed. Besides, the original intention of the poem was personal, referring to actual persons and events which might have meant something to his readers
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