To His Coy Mistress Flashcards
What was happening during the time of this poem?
In the 17th century, there was a civil war between catholics and the Protestants. It was a dangerous time which enforces the theme in the poem of time ‘running out’.
What is the whole poem about?
A man asking a woman for sex. At the time it was important for a woman to be pure.
It is a metaphysical poem and Marvell is using irony, hyperbolic language and wit to mock other love poets and questions how women are seen and treated.
Marvell is not the speaker in the poem.
What can be said about the title?
- The poem is in first person so the use of the word ‘his’ means that the ‘mistress’ (unmarried woman) belongs to someone else. She belongs more to God than she does to him.
- ‘Coy’ means someone who is shy sexually and has the purity as a virgin
What can be said about the structure of the poem?
It is layer out as one long stanza but is split into three paragraph verses, 2 arguments and a conclusion.
- the 1st paragraph verse = if he had the time, he would take it slower and adore her for longer. But we don’t have forever so every moment must be savoured. Slow pace, long verse
- the 2nd paragraph verse = we are running out of time in death, it doesn’t matter if you’re a virgin or not. You will still lose your virginity either way by worms. Which would you prefer? The size is half the size of the first to show his impatience. The speed increases to
- the 3rd paragraph verse = disrespecting God and offering the argument of life being more important than the afterlife, it doesn’t matter if you get into heaven or not. Monosyllabic with more caesura to the end
What Latin phrase can be used to describe the poem?
Carpe diem - sieze the day
What term describes the poem referring to its progressive argument structure?
Syllogistic structure
What form of rhyme is in the poem and why?
Rhyming couplets, perhaps to show the romance and fluidity of his words and desires. The use of colloquial language was common in metaphysical poems for the reader to better understand the message.
‘Thou by the Indian Ganges side shouldn’st Rubies find: I by the Tide of Humber would complain.’
- the ‘Indian Ganges’ would be talked about only by explorers as one of the most beautiful places in the world, compared to ‘Humber’ in Hull. The contrast shows how worthy he views her compared to himself.
- the caesura (:) shows the separation of her position compared to him, showing both how much better he views her compared to him but also could show how separated he feels from her - showing how much he craves a shag.
‘My vegetable Love should grow vaster than Empires, and more slow.’
Double meaning:
- his love is natural and has grown like a plant, nurtured and cared for so much that it has grown bigger than ever.
- the ‘vegetable Love’ refers to his erect penis, he is trying to tempt her with innuendos
What is the rhythm of the poem most of the time and how does it change?
It is mostly in iambic tetrameter which mirrors his heartbeat.
It is a predictable rhythm however showing that she knows what he wants. He changes this rhythm in places to regain the control by incorporating trochanter rhythm (STRESS unstress)
His heartbeat/thrusting rhythm is disrupting to show excitement?
Temporal references
Especially in the first verse paragraph, there are a lot of references to time (ten years, age, times winged chariot) it emphasises how time is running out.
This is also supported by the first rhyme of the poem (time and crime). It is a criminal thing that is stopping his from loving her more.
In the last verse paragraph, the temporal language is more urgent (Now, thus) which shows his impatience. It is a direct contrast to his patience of the first verse paragraph
‘Times winged chariot’ ‘time devour’ time is personified as a predatory thing
What is the significance of the biblical references? Some quotes?
‘Ten years before the flood’ ‘honour into dust; and into ashes all my lust.’ ‘The Iron Gates of Life.’
These biblical references show that the speaker understands and sympathises with her reasons for not wanting to have sex.
‘An hundred years should go to praise thine eyes…thirty thousand to the rest’
Marvell is making fun of the ‘blazon’ often used in love poetry. It is the action of admiring someone from up to down. It is usually only done for the face but Marvell uses the whole body to show how society objectified women.
The time is excessively long which is a hyperbole. The time is longer the lower down for humour.
Summery of first verse paragraph
The speaker is praising his mistress and says that if he had longer, he wouldn’t rush into it, but we don’t have forever
It is long to show how long he wishes he had with her. Steady thrusting pace.
Genuine tenderness and love: ‘for lady you deserve this state; nor would I love at lower rate.’
‘Thy beauty shall no more be found;’
This contradicts with typical love poetry which says that love lives forever.
There is also emphasis on death which is a common thing for metaphysical poetry.
