The Rape of The Lock MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature

The Rape of The Lock MCQs
Updated on: October 20, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 17 min

Before you begin the quiz, ensure you have a complete comprehension of the summary of The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope.

The Rape of The Lock MCQs

CANTO I

1. What does Pope explicitly state as the subject of his poem?

A. Mighty battles and heroic deeds.
B. Mighty contests from trivial things.
C. The history of ancient empires.
D. The love story of Belinda and Caryll.

B. Mighty contests from trivial things.
The opening lines establish the mock-heroic tone by treating a trivial event with epic language.

2. To whom does Pope say the opening verse is due?

A. Belinda and Sir Plume.
B. The Muse and Milton.
C. Caryll and Belinda.
D. Homer and Virgil.

C. Caryll and Belinda.
John Caryll, a friend of Pope, suggested he write the poem to reconcile the two families.

3. What specific event prompted Pope to write The Rape of the Lock?

A. A major war between two families.
B. Lord Petre cutting a lock of Arabella Fermor’s hair.
C. A dispute over church doctrine.
D. A grand royal ball.

B. Lord Petre cutting a lock of Arabella Fermor’s hair.
The poem is based on a real social incident between two prominent Catholic families.

4. What was Pope’s stated purpose for writing the poem?

A. To impress the Queen.
B. To become a famous poet.
C. To make a jest of the incident and laugh the families together again.
D. To criticize all of English society.

C. To make a jest of the incident and laugh the families together again.
Pope’s primary goal was to use gentle satire to heal a social rift between his friends.
5. What kind of poem is The Rape of the Lock described as?

A. A simple literary elegy.
B. A straightforward epic.
C. A tragedy.
D. A mock-heroic poem.

D. A mock-heroic poem.
It uses the grand style and conventions of classical epic poetry to satirize a trivial subject.

6. In the opening scene, what does Belinda’s lapdog, Shock, do?

A. Barks loudly.
B. Gives himself the rowzing Shake.
C. Brings her the mail.
D. Jumps on the bed.

B. Gives himself the rowzing Shake.
Even the lapdog’s actions are described with a certain mock-gravity, contributing to the poem’s tone.

7. What does Belinda see upon waking, if report says true?

A. Her reflection.
B. A golden crown.
C. A Billet-doux.
D. A lock of hair.

C. A Billet-doux.
The love letter emphasizes the romantic and social world that Belinda inhabits.

8. What is Belinda’s dressing table described as in Canto I?

A. A simple wooden table.
B. A place of chaos.
C. A shining Altar.
D. A battleground.

C. A shining Altar.
This is a key mock-heroic comparison, treating the ritual of getting ready as a sacred religious ceremony.

9. What diverse items are found together on Belinda’s toilet table?

A. Jewels and ancient scrolls.
B. Swords and shields.
C. Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux.
D. Books and maps.

C. Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux.
This mixture of sacred and profane items satirizes the values of Belinda’s society.
10. From what source did Pope invent his “Machinery” of spirits?

A. Greek mythology.
B. Christian theology.
C. The Rosicrucian Doctrine of Spirits.
D. Roman history.

C. The Rosicrucian Doctrine of Spirits.
Pope added these spirits in a later version to enhance the mock-epic quality, replacing classical gods.

11. According to the Rosicrucians, what are the four elements inhabited by?

A. Humans, animals, plants, rocks.
B. Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders.
C. Angels, demons, saints, and devils.
D. Fire, water, earth, and air.

B. Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders.
These four types of spirits correspond to the four elements and the four female personality types.

12. What do “Sprights of fiery Termagants” become after they expire?

A. Nymphs.
B. Gnomes.
C. Salamanders.
D. Sylphs.

C. Salamanders.
Fiery, combative women become Salamanders, spirits of fire, continuing their nature after death.

13. What do “light Coquettes” become after death?

A. Salamanders.
B. Gnomes.
C. Nymphs.
D. Sylphs.

D. Sylphs.
Flirtatious women become Sylphs, spirits of the air, whose duty is to protect young ladies.

14. What does Ariel warn Belinda to beware of most?

A. Lost jewels.
B. Man.
C. Falling china.
D. Bad weather.

B. Man.
Ariel’s dream-warning foreshadows the conflict with the Baron, which is the central event of the poem.
15. What causes Ariel’s power to expire when he seeks Belinda’s thoughts?

A. An Earthly Lover lurking at her Heart.
B. A sudden storm.
C. A powerful rival.
D. Belinda’s virtue.

A. An Earthly Lover lurking at her Heart.
This discovery reveals Belinda is not entirely chaste in her thoughts, making her vulnerable.

CANTO II

16. What does Belinda wear on her white breast?

A. A golden locket.
B. A single rose.
C. A sparkling Cross.
D. A miniature portrait.

C. A sparkling Cross.
The cross is worn as a fashionable ornament, which “Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore.”

17. What famous line suggests forgiveness for Belinda’s “Female Errors”?

A. “Her heart is pure, her soul is clean.”
B. “Her spirit shines, so bright and keen.”
C. “Her wisdom deep, her mind serene.”
D. “Look on her Face, and you’ll forget ‘em all.”

D. “Look on her Face, and you’ll forget ‘em all.”
This line highlights the power of female beauty to overcome any perceived moral failings in this society.

18. What does the poem claim draws “Man’s Imperial Race”?

A. Great riches.
B. Powerful armies.
C. Eloquent speeches.
D. Fair Tresses / a single Hair.

D. Fair Tresses / a single Hair.
The poem elevates the power of a single strand of hair to the level of an empire-conquering force.

19. What is the Baron’s initial resolution regarding the locks?

A. To humbly ask for one.
B. To ignore them.
C. By Force to ravish, or by Fraud betray.
D. To admire them from afar.

C. By Force to ravish, or by Fraud betray.
The Baron’s desire is framed in the epic language of conquest and warfare, setting up the central conflict.
20. What did the Baron build an altar of to implore propitious Heaven and Love?

A. Jewels and gold.
B. Ancient scriptures.
C. Twelve vast French Romances, neatly gilt.
D. Weapons and armor.

C. Twelve vast French Romances, neatly gilt.
His altar of love romances is a satirical version of an epic hero’s prayer to the gods before battle.

21. What are some of the names Ariel calls his aerial followers?

A. Angels, Devils, Spirits.
B. Nymphs, Dryads, Naiads.
C. Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Dæmons.
D. Giants, Pixies, Goblins.

C. Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Dæmons.
Ariel’s speech mimics an epic general addressing his troops, assigning them tasks to protect Belinda.

22. What major disaster does Ariel warn Belinda might occur?

A. A shipwreck.
B. A frail China Jar receive a Flaw.
C. A political scandal.
D. A lost election.

B. A frail China Jar receive a Flaw.
The poem humorously equates the breaking of a tea cup with the staining of a lady’s honor.

23. Who is assigned to tend Belinda’s favorite Lock?

A. Ariel.
B. Brillante.
C. Momentilla.
D. Crispissa.

D. Crispissa.
Ariel assigns specific sylphs to guard different aspects of Belinda’s beauty and accessories.

24. What is Ariel himself assigned to guard?

A. Belinda’s fan.
B. Her watch.
C. Her petticoat.
D. Shock.

D. Shock.
The chief Sylph is assigned to guard the lapdog, a comically trivial task for a powerful spirit.
25. What might restrain a sylph’s flight and clog its silken wings?

A. Strong winds.
B. Sticky honey.
C. Gums and Pomatums.
D. Chains and locks.

C. Gums and Pomatums.
The punishments for failing sylphs are fittingly trivial, involving cosmetic and dressmaking items.

CANTO III

26. What is the name of the “Majestick Frame” where the poem’s action largely takes place?

A. Windsor Castle.
B. Buckingham Palace.
C. The Tower of London.
D. Hampton Court.

D. Hampton Court.
This royal palace is the grand setting where nobles gather for gossip, games, and flirtation.

27. When does the poem state that “Wretches hang”?

A. When the King commands it.
B. That Jury-men may Dine.
C. After a long trial.
D. To make an example.

B. That Jury-men may Dine.
This cynical line contrasts the life-and-death stakes of the outside world with the trivialities of high society.

28. What game does Belinda burn to encounter two “adventrous Knights” at?

A. Chess.
B. Whist.
C. Backgammon.
D. Ombre.

D. Ombre.
The card game is described as a great battle, with the cards acting as soldiers in an epic conflict.

29. Which card is “Spadillio”?

A. The King of Spades.
B. The Queen of Spades.
C. The Two of Spades.
D. The Ace of Spades.

D. The Ace of Spades.
The specific names of the cards add to the mock-heroic detail of the “battle” scene.
30. What does coffee send up in “Vapours” to the Baron’s brain?

A. Sweet dreams.
B. Feelings of peace.
C. New Stratagems.
D. Visions of glory.

C. New Stratagems.
The coffee ritual inspires the Baron to renew his plot, much like a hero drinking a potion before a fight.

31. Who draws the “two-edg’d Weapon” that is given to the Baron?

A. Belinda.
B. Thalestris.
C. Ariel.
D. Clarissa.

D. Clarissa.
Clarissa providing the scissors makes her later speech on good sense deeply ironic.

32. What is the “little Engine” that the Baron extends on his fingers’ ends?

A. A small gun.
B. A miniature sword.
C. A pair of tongs.
D. The Forfex (scissors).

D. The Forfex (scissors).
The scissors are described with the Latinate term “forfex,” elevating them to a heroic weapon.

33. What happens to the “wretched Sylph” that too fondly interposes before the fatal engine closes?

A. It turns to stone.
B. It is captured.
C. It is cut in twain.
D. It flies away unharmed.

C. It is cut in twain.
The sylph is bisected but, being an airy spirit, immediately reunites, a parody of epic wounds.

34. Belinda’s screams are compared to shrieks when what happens?

A. Husbands die, or Lap-dogs breathe their last, Or rich China Vessels fall.
B. Kingdoms fall or battles are lost.
C. Children cry or lovers depart.
D. Temples burn or gods are angered.

A. Husbands die, or Lap-dogs breathe their last, Or rich China Vessels fall.
This satirical comparison equates the loss of a husband with the loss of a pet or a teacup.

CANTO IV

35. Which character is described as a “dusky melancholy Spright” who visits the Cave of Spleen?

A. Ariel.
B. Clarissa.
C. Umbriel.
D. Sir Plume.

C. Umbriel.
Umbriel, a gnome, undertakes a journey to the underworld, a classic epic convention.

36. Who are the two “Handmaids” waiting at Spleen’s Throne?

A. Beauty and Grace.
B. Wisdom and Folly.
C. Ill-nature and Affectation.
D. Patience and Despair.

C. Ill-nature and Affectation.
These personified figures represent the negative emotions and behaviors associated with the spleen, or melancholy.

37. What is contained in the “wondrous Bag” given to Umbriel by the Goddess Spleen?

A. Gold and silver.
B. Spells and charms.
C. Sighs, Sobs, and Passions, and the War of Tongues.
D. Laughter and joy.

C. Sighs, Sobs, and Passions, and the War of Tongues.
Umbriel brings these bottled-up emotions back to inflame the conflict, like Aeolus’s bag of winds in the Aeneid.

38. What is in the “Vial” that Umbriel fills next?

A. Sparkling water.
B. Healing balm.
C. Fainting Fears, Soft Sorrows, melting Griefs, and flowing Tears.
D. Ambrosia.

C. Fainting Fears, Soft Sorrows, melting Griefs, and flowing Tears.
Umbriel breaks this vial over Belinda’s head to induce a fit of fashionable sorrow and self-pity.

39. Who does Thalestris rage to and bid demand the precious hairs?

A. The Baron’s servant.
B. Sir Plume.
C. A lawyer.
D. The Queen.

B. Sir Plume.
Thalestris, representing fiery female anger, enlists her beau, Sir Plume, to confront the Baron.
40. What is Sir Plume “justly vain” of?

A. His wit.
B. His eloquence.
C. His Amber Snuff-box.
D. His strength.

C. His Amber Snuff-box.
Sir Plume is a caricature of an ineffectual fop, more concerned with his accessories than with honor.

41. What morning omens does Belinda recall regarding her misfortune?

A. A dream of a storm.
B. A falling star.
C. Patch-box fell, China shook, Poll mute, Shock unkind.
D. A broken mirror.

C. Patch-box fell, China shook, Poll mute, Shock unkind.
Belinda’s lament lists a series of trivial omens, a parody of the grand portents in classical epics.

CANTO V

42. Who enters the scene to deliver a speech promoting “good Sense” and “good Humour”?

A. Belinda.
B. Thalestris.
C. Clarissa.
D. Ariel.

C. Clarissa.
Clarissa’s speech provides the moral of the poem, urging good humor and perspective over vanity.

43. What does Clarissa state “Charms strike,” but “Merit wins”?

A. The mind, the body.
B. The heart, the hand.
C. The Sight, the Soul.
D. The fame, the fortune.

C. The Sight, the Soul.
Her speech argues that inner virtue (merit) is more lasting and valuable than superficial beauty (charms).

44. What do the “Heroes’ and Heroins'” use as weapons in the climactic social battle?

A. Swords and daggers.
B. Words and wit.
C. Fans and Whalebones (petticoats).
D. Snuff-boxes and canes.

C. Fans and Whalebones (petticoats).
The final “battle” uses fashionable accessories as mock weapons, continuing the satire.
45. Who revives the “Beau” with her smile?

A. Belinda.
B. Thalestris.
C. Chloe.
D. Clarissa.

C. Chloe.
In this mock-battle, characters “die” from frowns and are revived by smiles, satirizing social drama.

46. What does Jove suspend in his “golden Scales”?

A. Love and hate.
B. Gold and silver.
C. The Men’s Wits against the Lady’s Hair.
D. War and peace.

C. The Men’s Wits against the Lady’s Hair.
This is a direct parody of Zeus weighing the fates of heroes in Homer’s *Iliad*.

47. How does Belinda finally subdue the Baron?

A. With a powerful blow.
B. With a magic spell.
C. With one Finger and a Thumb.
D. With a piercing shriek.

C. With one Finger and a Thumb.
Belinda easily overpowers the Baron, first with a pinch of snuff and then with her hairpin.

48. What “wily Virgin” throws a “Charge of Snuff” at the Baron?

A. Thalestris.
B. Clarissa.
C. Belinda.
D. Chloe.

C. Belinda.
Belinda’s use of snuff as a weapon is another prime example of mock-heroic combat.

49. Where is it suggested that the lost Lock has mounted to?

A. The underworld.
B. The Baron’s chamber.
C. The Lunar Sphere.
D. A secret hiding place.

C. The Lunar Sphere.
The lock vanishes during the fray, and the poet suggests it has ascended to the heavens.
50. What is the ultimate fate of Belinda’s Lock, as promised by the Muse?

A. It will be returned to her head.
B. It will turn to dust.
C. The Muse shall consecrate it to Fame, and inscribe Belinda’s Name mid’st the Stars.
D. It will be forgotten.

C. The Muse shall consecrate it to Fame, and inscribe Belinda’s Name mid’st the Stars.
The poem ends by immortalizing the lock as a constellation, a final mock-heroic transformation.

Brief Overview

The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope is a mock-epic poem that humorously portrays a minor social conflict. It is based on a real incident where Lord Petre cut a lock of hair from Arabella Fermor without her consent.

Pope transforms this small event into an epic tale, using grand language and classical references to satirize the vanity and superficiality of aristocratic society.

The poem follows Belinda, the fictional version of Arabella, who is presented as a beautiful and fashionable woman protected by supernatural beings called sylphs. Her beauty symbolizes society’s obsession with appearance.

When the Baron cuts Belinda’s hair, it is treated like a heroic conquest. Belinda reacts dramatically, highlighting the exaggerated values of the upper class.

Pope uses wit, heroic couplets, and epic conventions to expose how trivial matters are blown out of proportion. Through satire, he critiques the emptiness of social rituals and the lack of deeper moral values in aristocratic life.

Ultimately, the poem blends humor and elegance to emphasize how society elevates vanity to epic proportions.

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