The document discusses Alexander Pope's poem "The Rape of the Lock" and provides analysis of some lines from the poem. Students were asked to read sections of the poem aloud and discuss questions about difficult lines, poetic techniques, and meaning. Examples of lines are then analyzed, focusing on lexical choices, syntactical structures, and the construction of mock-heroic verse. Key poetic devices discussed include syllepsis, climactic syntagmatic structure, and paradigmatic or lexical choices.

1. Week FiveAlexander Pope (1688-1744)The Rape of the Lock

2. In pairs/threes, read your pre-session work to one another and talk through the following questions:Which lines proved the most difficult to ‘transform’?Which features of the lines do you think caused this?What were your solutions?Were you able to isolate and name any of Pope’s syntagmatic techniques?How do these contribute to the parodic qualities of the passage?

3. Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,Dost sometimes counsel take – and sometimes tea.How is the comedy constructed in these line?With syllepsis(or zeugma), in which one word (usually a verb or a preposition) governs two phrases.Deflates the grandeur of the lexis via the syntax. Equates the importance of Anne’s ‘counsel’ with that of her ‘tea’.

4. Example (p.608, Lines 29-34)Lexis: lock/key oppositionLexis: battle; monarchy Lexis: contestTh' adventurous Baron the bright locks admired; He saw, he wish'd and to the prize aspired. Resolv'd to win, he meditates the way, By force to ravish, or by fraud betray; For when success a lover's toil attends, Few ask if fraud or force attain'd his ends.Climactic syntagmatic structure: logic; inevitability.Medial caesura implies logical progressionAbsent object or intransitive verbs?Medial caesura implies binary choicePararhyme implies innocent or passive connection‘Fraud’ or ‘force’ are agentive, not the ‘lover’Sexually suggestive

5. Canto II, Lines 1-18 Not with more Glories, in th' Ethereal Plain, 1The Sun first rises o'er the purpled Main,Than issuing forth, the Rival of his BeamsLaunch'd on the Bosom of the Silver Thames.Fair Nymphs, and well-drest Youths around her shone, 5But ev'ry Eye was fix'd on her alone.On her white Breast a sparkling Cross she wore,Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore.Her lively Looks a sprightly Mind disclose,Quick as her Eyes, and as unfix'd as those: 10Favours to none, to all she Smiles extends,Oft she rejects, but never once offends.Bright as the Sun, her Eyes the Gazers strike,And, like the Sun, they shine on all alike.Yet graceful Ease, and Sweetness void of Pride, 15Might hide her Faults, if Belles had Faults to hide:If to her share some Female Errors fall,Look on her Face, and you'll forget 'em all.

6. TaskAnalyse your four lines, bearing mind the following features:Paradigmatic or lexical choices;Syntagmatic or sentence-structure choices;The construction of mock heroic verse.

7. Lines 1-4Not with more Glories, in th' Ethereal Plain,The Sun first rises o'er the purpled Main,Than issuing forth, the Rival of his BeamsLaunch'd on the Bosom of the Silver Thames.

8. Lines 5-8Fair Nymphs, and well-drest Youths around her shone,But ev'ry Eye was fix'd on her alone.On her white Breast a sparkling Cross she wore,Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore.

9. Lines 9-12Her lively Looks a sprightly Mind disclose,Quick as her Eyes, and as unfix'd as those:Favours to none, to all she Smiles extends,Oft she rejects, but never once offends.

10. Lines 13-16Bright as the Sun, her Eyes the Gazers strike,And, like the Sun, they shine on all alike.Yet graceful Ease, and Sweetness void of Pride,Might hide her Faults, if Belles had Faults to hide:

11. Lines 15-18 Yet graceful Ease, and Sweetness void of Pride, Might hide her Faults, if Belles had Faults to hide:If to her share some Female Errors fall,Look on her Face, and you'll forget 'em all.