POEMS - 'To his coy mistress' by Andrew Marvell

CHAD

Hi
Does anyone have any notes on this poem? GCSE Level. I have lost mine and my poetry cw is in for monday!
Thanx!

Reply 1

DonnaB041986

CHAD

Hi
Does anyone have any notes on this poem? GCSE Level. I have lost mine and my poetry cw is in for monday!
Thanx!

ahhh, english lit! 'if we had world enough, and time, her coyness, lady were no crime' or something like that? sorry, dont have my notes anymore, it was two years ago when i did that. ah, memories :biggrin:

Donna
-x-

Reply 2

waiting2smile

CHAD

Hi
Does anyone have any notes on this poem? GCSE Level. I have lost mine and my poetry cw is in for monday!
Thanx!

After the end of my GSCEs we burned all our books at a party...sorry...! However i'm sure if you type the title in google, there will probably be a lot of study notes dedicated to it, as it is a very popular poem.

Reply 3

CHAD

waiting2smile

I tried that, but it didnt work.

Reply 4

waiting2smile

CHAD

I tried that, but it didnt work.

Okay, try learn.co.uk - there's a section on hearts&partners:

Reply 5

waiting2smile

English - To His Coy Mistress

Structure and Form
The rhyming couplets and regular rhythm help to keep the argument moving and undermine the logic of the argument. The poem is structured in three parts to logically develop the argument, for example "had we, but, so now therefore".

Language
The poem shows a man using persuasive language. Compared with 'our love now' and 'i wanna be yours' this shows three examples of poems where men trying to persuade.

First Section of the Poem
The theme is time, if they had time, he wouldn't wait forever to use 'till the conversation of the jews' or 'before the flood'. The poem uses metaphors, for example 'is vegetable love' and 'his love would have time to grow and spread'. He tries to praise and compares it to an exotic location (Indian Ganges). He would spend hundreds of years praising the different parts of her body.

Second Section of the Poem
The argument becomes more threatening. He says 'live now' because death waits for them. The language emphasises the speed and movement of time, for example 'times wisdom chariot'. He says to her that she will loose her beauty. Words such as 'deserts' and 'dust' and 'ashes' emphasise what will happen o her if she does not give in. He is also very mocking, more will embrace her in her game.\

Third Section of the Poem
The language is more powerful, they should make easy movement matter. He uses sexual images such as 'tear' and 'rough' and also 'iron gates of lights' referring to taking her virginity.

The Woman
The woman does not appear in the poem, but her presence is felt throughout. This is the same as the poem 'i wanna be yours'. There is also a sense of power from the woman.

Women in the 17th century may have been seen as the weaker sex, but she is in the greater position of power in her refusal to make love to him.

Compared to 'i wanna be yours' and 'the beggar woman' the poem expresses many emotions, lest sadness and humor.

Tone
The tone in the poem is persuasive, threatening and there is a light hearted feel to the poem.

Unification
The poem introduces unity with coming together 'our sweetness up into one ball'.