TO HIS COY MISTRESS

THIS COYNESS LADY WERE NO CRIME.

theme of shyness, which was typical of seductivness

TO WALK, AND PASS OUR LONG LOVES DAY.

alliterative, sensual, seductive

THOU BY THE INDIAN GANGES SIDE

exotic (tea and spices produced here) emphasises the value and rugged beauty, opposite to conventional London

LOVE YOU TEN YEARS BEFORE THE FLOOD;

biblical references, part of the ‘Carpe Diem’

MY VEGETABLE LOVE SHOULD GROW VASTER THAN EMPIRES AND MORE SLOW

hyperbolic, semantic field of desperation and desire, phallic imagery through growth of desire

AND THE LAST AGE SHOULD SHOW YOUR HEART.

extreme exagerration and manipulative tone

TIMES WINGED CHARIOT HURRYING NEAR

hard hitting, controversial, personifies time as an unstoppable force

DESARTS OF VAST ETERNITY

emphasises that there is no physical intimacy, replaces idealised praise of images of decay, death, violence, all destroyed

MY ECHOING SONG: THEN WORMS SHALL TRY THAT LONG PRESERV’D VIRGINITY

horrific, shocking imagery

SITS ON THY SKIN LIKE MORNING DEW,

physical vitality and mutual passion contrasts the decay

AT EVERY PORE WITH INSTANT FIRES

physical vitality and mutual passion contrasts the decay

AND NOW, LIKE AM’ROUS BIRDS OF PREY

violent, energetic metaphor

THOROUGH THE IRON GATES OF LIFE.

violent energetic metaphor, love is an intense and defiant force, admits that he can’t stop time but can triumph ‘carpe diem’

STAND STILL, YET WE WILL MAKE HIM RUN.

semantic field of battle, battle for pleasure

What are the themes in the poem?

morality, lack of time, loss, insecurity, appearance vs reality, predatory love, death

What is the structure of the poem?

regular iambic tetrameter, but at key points the stress is disrupted (eg line 37), combo of poetry devices (eg Petrachan sonnet and philosophical thought)

What is important about the first stanza?

hypothetical, manipulated, exaggerated, grooming, reference to time, language

What is important about the second stanza?

fast paced, time was running out, shows the antithesis

What is important about the third stanza?

care diem, synthesis

What is clear in the poem?

the argument

Who was Marvell?

aa politician in HOC under Cromwell, tutor for Cromwell’s son (Dutton), politics have a large impact on his life so he removes them from his poem

How did Marvell die?

1678, poisoned, rumour was this it was by a Jesuit

What does his poem emphasise?

satirical, metaphysical, emphasises Carpe Diem

When was the poem written?

Interregnum period (1649-1660)

Where did Marvell go to school?

Cambridge

Where was Marvell for 6 yrs?

no records some believed he was spying for the government