Andrew Marvell - To His Coy Mistress Flashcards
What is the fundamental message of the poem?
Carpe Diem - Seize the day “Life is short, so live it to the fullest,”
What does the speaker tell the mistress in the first stanza?
If they had more time and space, her “coyness” wouldn’t be a “crime.” He would focus on “each part” of her body until he got to the heart (sex).
What does the speaker tell the mistress in the second stanza?
“BUT,” they don’t have the time, they are about to die! He tells her that life is short, but death is forever.
What disgusting imagery does the speaker use to emphasise his point of time running out?
He warns her that, when she’s in the coffin, worms will try to take her “virginity” if she doesn’t have sex with him before they die.
What does the speaker tell the mistress in the third stanza?
“NOW,” he’s told her what will happen when she dies, so they should have sex while they’re still young.
What does the speaker suggest in the last couplet?
They can’t make time stop, but they can change places with it. Whenever they have sex, they pursue time, instead of time pursuing them.
What does ‘slow-chapt power’ mean?
Slowly devouring jaws - he feels like he’s dying in Time’s mouth, and that time is slowly eating him up.
What does the description of ‘ball’ suggest?
They should roll up all their ‘strength’ into having sex - ‘ball’ carries on from the idea of ‘sport’ mentioned earlier.
What suggests the speaker is all about action?
The language he uses in his portrayal of stillness isn’t very positive, while his moments of action are full of excitement and challenge.
What are symbols of imperialism in the poem?
The “Indian Ganges” and “rubies,” the colonialists, by way of rubies and India, become a metaphor for the mistress. She steals sex from the speaker, by not having it with him. If she doesn’t stop abusing her power, she will leave him in ruins.
What does the speaker accuses the mistress of?
Thinking that sex and relationships are something big and serious, like ruling the world (the goal of building an empire), when, in fact – or so he says later on – such things are as common for people as for birds.
What else does mistress mean and why does this give an alternative reading on the poem?
A woman who acts as a patron, or sponsor, for an artist - perhaps he’s trying to convince her to sponsor him for a new project, or, in short, to give him money. he could be using sex as a metaphor for money.
