Question

Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu.

Read the excerpt.

The **** of the Lock
by Alexander Pope (excerpt)

And now, unveil'd, the Toilet stands display'd,Each silver Vase in mystic order laid.First, rob'd in white, the Nymph intent adores,With head uncover'd, the Cosmetic pow'rs.A heav'nly image in the glass appears,To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears;Th' inferior Priestess, at her altar's side,Trembling begins the sacred rites of Pride.Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and hereThe various off'rings of the world appear;From each she nicely culls with curious toil,And decks the Goddess with the glitt'ring spoil.This casket India's glowing gems unlocks,And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.The Tortoise here and Elephant unite,Transformed to combs, the speckled, and the white.



Identify the intended meaning of each of the following phrases from the excerpt.

"a heav'nly image"
a. the apparition of a goddess
b. the reflection of the sylph Ariel
c. Belinda's reflection in the mirror
d. Belinda's image of her suitor

"all Arabia breathes"
a. a piece of satin from Arabia
b. perfume imported from Arabia
c. spices of Arabia
d. a book of Arabian tales

"The Tortoise here and the Elephant"
a. combs of a variety of shapes and sizes
b. a box with impressions of tortoises and elephants
c. different colored boxes holding cosmetic accessories
d. combs made from tortoise shell and elephant tusk

Answer 1

The poem by Alexander Pope connects a small incident - a woman named Arabella Fermor's hair cut by her suitor - to the mythological world of Gods. The title is a reference to the incident, but the word r'pe is not used in modern meaning; here it means to grab, to carry off something.

1) a heav’nly image is a metaphor to the girl in the poem which means that she appears at the mirror after waking up. This girl is Arabella Fermor who is fictionalized as Belinda in the poem. The correct answer is C.

2) The line "And all Arabia breathes from yonder box" continues as various offerings of the world. The author counts many different valuable things from all around the World in the period of British reign and expansion. The phrase all Arabia breathes means perfume imported from Arabia which Belinda uses. The correct answer is B.

3) Again it is the continuation of this wealth from all around the world with the description of Belinda's combs made from tortoise shell and elephant tusk. The correct answer is D.

Answer 2

In Alexander Pope’s mock-epic poem “The R*pe of the Lock” the intended meaning of the first phrase of excerpt “a heav’nly image” is (d), it represents Belinda's reflection in the mirror. Pope’s intention was to show how much Belinda puts value in make-up and her bowing to see her reflection in mirror represents her narcissism – she religiously bows to her religion of narcissism.

The second phrase intended meaning from the excerpt "all Arabia breathes" is (b.) perfume imported from Arabia. In her jewelry box on her vanity, Belinda has “gems” imported from Arabia that respire the scent of the “all Arabia”. In this line Pope uses a synecdoche encouraging the reader to imagine the sensual scents from the open box that fill the room.

The third phrase intended meaning from excerpt "The Tortoise here and the Elephant" is (d.) combs made from tortoise shell and elephant tusk. Pope uses metonymy in this line (tortoise =tortoise’s shell; elephant=ivory) to suggest bizarre union of tortoise and elephant as contrasted textures of glamorous combs.