Mock Epic Essay

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Mock Epic: Mock epic is a parody of the epic poem. In a mock epic poem, the poet includes all the characteristics of an epic poem, whereas the story is rather mundane or about some trivial issue. With the help of epic style, including elaborate form, high style of language, etc., the poet makes the petty situation highly humorous and entertaining. Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock is one of the finest examples of mock epic poems. 1 RAPE OF LOCK AS A MOCK EPIC An Epic is along narrative poem written in an elevated style with a serioustheme at least of national level. As a procedure the poet starts the poem with invocationto the holy spirits to assist him in this task and then plunges into the middle of the story ortheme. The high sounding, bombastic and ornate language, war like speeches, ancientand mythical references and the use of supernatural machinery are some of the mainfeatures or essential ingredients of the epic writing.On the contrary, mock epic, the very word Mock Epic itself suggests the meanings.A mock epic is a type of poetry, which is written in a mocking style or in a ridiculousmanner. In this type of poetry, the poet follows all the rules and convictions of epic writinglaid down by the pioneers except the seriousness of the theme. The intention of the writerof a mock-heroic is not to poke fun at the epics or their conventions and devices thoughthe term “mock epic” or “mock-heroic” suggests such a mockery: he follows instead allthe conventions of the epic in order to point out the discrepancy between the heroic formand the triviality of the subject-matter. The mock epic can be defined as: “The mock epic is a poetic form, which uses the epic structure, but on a miniaturescale and with a subject that is mean and trivial. Its purpose is satirical to make thesubject look ridiculous by placing it in a frame work entirely inappropriate to it

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