Friday, August 24, 2012

Explain the following line in The Rape of the Lock: "here files of pins extend their shining rows"

The following line appears in Pope's poem "The Rape of the
Lock" in Canto One, line 37. Explanation of the line needs to be completed within the
context of Canto One as a whole.


In Canto One, Pope
introduces the Beautiful Belinda. The Sun (a muse in the poem) has been evoked so as to
provide the beginning of the day (which the sun historically symbolizes). The people of
the household, therefore, are described as going about their typical morning
routine.


Readers learn of Belinda and her relationship with
the Sylphs- they are her protectors- through a description of her dreams. Her main
protector, Ariel, tells her in her dream that the day will bring about "some dread
Event". After awaking from her dream, and the warning, Belinda proceeds to ready herself
for the day.


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Here Files of Pins extend their shining
Rows,
Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux.
Now awful Beauty
puts on all its Arms;
The Fair each moment rises in her
Charms,
Repairs her Smiles, awakens ev'ry Grace,
And calls forth all
the Wonders of her Face;



The
lines shown above tell of Belinda readying herself for the day. The "files of pins" are
hair pins placed into her hair in rows. The following lines depict the things Belinda
needs to get ready so that all can look upon "the Wonders of her
Face".


The line is simply referring to Belinda having her
hair done.

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