Final Answer:
The heroes referred to by Pope in Canto 3 are the warriors engaged in the battle over Belinda's lock. This conclusion is drawn from the context of the poem, specifically the epic battle that unfolds over Belinda's prized possession, representing the central conflict of the narrative. Therefore, the correct answer is d) The warriors engaged in the battle over Belinda's lock.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Canto 3 of "The of the Lock" by Alexander Pope, the term "heroes" refers to the characters actively involved in the battle over Belinda's lock. The poem describes a mock-epic conflict between the Baron and Belinda, with the lock of hair serving as a symbolic trophy. The warriors, in this context, are the male characters participating in the skirmish. The term "heroes" is used ironically, emphasizing the triviality of the conflict in comparison to traditional epic battles.
Pope employs satire to mock the exaggerated importance placed on such trivial matters in society, using epic conventions to highlight the absurdity of the situation. The heroes, therefore, are not noble or grand in the traditional sense but rather ordinary figures engaged in a humorous and exaggerated struggle over a lock of hair. The poem satirizes the vanity and frivolity of the aristocratic society of Pope's time, making the term "heroes" a commentary on the misplaced values of the characters involved.
In conclusion, the "heroes" in Canto 3 are not historical or supernatural figures, but rather the warriors engaged in the comical battle over Belinda's lock. Pope's use of irony and satire underscores the poem's social commentary on the superficiality and self-importance of the upper class in 18th-century England.
Therefore, the correct answer is d) The warriors engaged in the battle over Belinda's lock.