The theft of a lock of hair from a young woman by an admirer triggers a series of absurd, high-stakes social conflicts among the eighteenth-century aristocracy. The protagonist, Belinda, finds her vanity and social standing challenged when the Baron snips a lock of her hair during a card game. Pope utilizes the framework of a mock epic to elevate this trivial domestic incident to the scale of a grand mythological struggle, pitting the characters against supernatural sylphs and gnomes. The narrative is presented in heroic couplets, maintaining a rigid, formal structure that contrasts sharply with the frivolous nature of the characters' concerns.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the technical precision of Pope's verse and his ability to sustain a comedic tone through rigid formal structures. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the mock epic style in exposing the triviality of aristocratic life during the eighteenth century. Many observers note that the poem serves as a foundational example of English satire, balancing sharp wit with an intricate, playful atmosphere. The work is widely studied for its linguistic dexterity and its enduring influence on the development of the mock-heroic genre in literature.