Question

select the correct text in the passage. which stanza from \the rape of the lock\ by alexander pope indicates that the poem is meant to mock the form of the heroic epic? one speaks the glory of the british queen, and one describes a charming indian screen, a third interprets motions, looks, and eyes, at every word a reputation dies. the knave of diamonds tries his wily arts, and wins (oh shameful chance!) the queen of hearts at this, the blood the virgin’s cheek forsook, a livid paleness spreads o’er all her look. \to arms, to arms!\ the fierce viragó cries, and swift as lightning to the combat flies. all side in parties, and begin th’ attack; fans clap, silks rustle, and tough whalebones crack. think not, when woman’s transient breath is fled that all her vanities at once are dead, succeeding vanities she still regards, and tho’ she plays no more, o’erlooks the cards.

Explanation:

To determine which stanza mocks the heroic epic form, we analyze each: The stanza with "The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (oh shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts" uses epic - like language (e.g., "wily arts", "shameful chance") for a trivial card - game situation, which parodies the grand, serious conflicts in heroic epics. Other stanzas describe the Queen, interpretations, or the end of vanities, but this one applies epic conventions to a mundane event, mocking the form.

Answer:

The stanza: "The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (oh shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts"