“I sing—This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due:” 

Supernatural Spirits: In real epic poems, gods help brave heroes. They guide and protect them in war. Pope also uses such supernatural help. But his gods are not real gods. He creates small air spirits called sylphs. These sylphs protect proud and pretty girls. Ariel is the leader of these spirits. He is the guardian of Belinda. He says, 

“A watchful Sprite, and Ariel is my Name.” 

War over A Curl: Epic poetry generally deals with war and heroic deeds. However, in this poem, the poet compares the party fight to a battle. This makes the poem mock-epic. When the hair is cut, everyone is angry. Belinda wants it back. She cries and screams. Then the party turns into a battle. They throw fans and snuff. They shout and fight like soldiers. Pope writes this like a big fight. But the weapons are funny. The war is not real. It is only a party fight. 

Heroic Language: Pope uses high and rich words. He writes like a serious poet. But the topic is very small. He compares Belinda’s clothes to a soldier’s arms. He compares her mirror to a holy place. He talks about the hair as if it were gold. The style is big, but the story is small. 

Lessons and Fun: At the end, Pope gives a message. He says beauty is not forever. Belinda’s hair goes to the sky. It becomes a star. Now people will remember her. The following quotation shows this.

“This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to Fame,

And mid'st the Stars inscribe Belinda's Name!”

In conclusion, “The Rape of the Lock” is a perfect mock-epic. It has all the parts of a real epic. But the story is not serious. Pope uses this form to make fun of rich people. He shows their false pride and silly lives. He adds spirits, battles, and big words. But the poem is full of jokes. This makes it both funny and wise. So, Pope uses the mock-epic form to teach and entertain at the same time.