Instructions Read the following poem: \"To His Coy Mistress\" by Andrew Marvell
ID: 113689 • Letter: I
Question
Instructions
Read the following poem:
"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell (1621-1678).
Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day;
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood;
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found,
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long preserv'd virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust.
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like am'rous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power.
Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball;
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Instructions:
1st, cut and paste the following questions into a word processor,
2nd, answer them,
3rd, cut-and-paste you answered document into the submissions area
As always, have fun!
INQUIRIES
1. Summarize the speaker's argument:
2. Is the argument valid?
3. How would you refute it?
4. Many consider this poem to be a satire; what is it satirizing?
5. Marvell uses a literary technique called "hyperbole" - (a form of exaggeration); give two examples:
6. Why does Marvell use hyperbole?
7. What conclusion does Marvell draw?
8. What support(s)/evidence does he give?
9. How does his commentary use the support to argue for the conclusion?
10. Write a counter-point (poetry or prose) from the woman's point of view
Explanation / Answer
1. Summarize the speaker's argument:
The speaker of the poem starts by addressing a woman who has been slow to respond to his romantic advances. In the first stanza he describes how he would love her if he were to be unencumbered by the constraints of a normal lifespan. He could spend centuries admiring each part of her body and her resistance to his advances (i.e., coyness) would not discourage him. In the second stanza, he laments how short human life is. Once life is over, the speaker contends, the opportunity to enjoy one another is gone, as no one embraces in death. In the last stanza, the speaker urges the woman to requite his efforts, and argues that in loving one another with passion they will both make the most of the brief time they have to live.
2. Is the argument valid?
Yes it is valid.
3. How would you refute it?
Till the line "nor would i love at lower rate", discuss what would happen if the young man and young woman had unlimited time.from gere to thr line"but none i think do their embrace", point out that they do not have unlimited time. Remaining lines urge the young woman to seize the day and submit.
4. Many consider this poem to be a satire; what is it satirizing?
Some modern critics, however, argue Marvell's use of complex and ambiguous metaphors challenges the perceived notions of the poem. It as well raises suspicion of irony and deludes the reader with its inappropriate and jarring imagery. Some critics believe the poem is an ironic statement on sexual seduction. They reject the idea that Marvell's poem carries a serious and solemn mood. Rather, the poem's opening lines—"Had we but world enough, and time/ This coyness, Lady, were no crime"—seems to suggest quite a whimsical tone of regret. In the second part of the poem, there is a sudden transition into imagery that involves graves, marble vaults and worms. The narrator's use of such metaphors to depict a realistic and harsh death that awaits the lovers seems to be a way of shocking the lady into submission. As well, critics note the sense of urgency of the narrator in the poem's third section, especially the alarming comparison of the lovers to "amorous birds of prey"
5. Marvell uses a literary technique called "hyperbole" - (a form of exaggeration); give two examples:
In line 2, the poet hyperbolically suggest that the lady's refusal of his advances will lead to crime.
Lines 7-10 about the longlasting nature of his love, ckearly shows the hyperbolic approach.
6. Why does Marvell use hyperbole?
Hyperbole partially emphasize the pride, foolishness and exaggerated nature of the speaker. Each time speaker uses hyperbole, we smile or even laugh for his foolishness. Through this approach, speaker makes us to laugh for his exaggerating confidence while he is very seriuos about it and we are not while reading.