Analysis of Poem

1. “ To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell

5. “ To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. To His Coy Mistress is one of many “seduction poems”. The message is simple: the coyness of his mistress appeals to him, but life is too short to play games, so it's time to get serious.

13. We would sit down and think which way To walk, and pass our long love's day; Thou by the Indian Ganges' side 5 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of Humber would complain. c.1650 – time of exploration and discovery - EFFECT OF COMPARISON? Her: by the side of the River Ganges in India with rubies Him: by the side of the River Humber in Hull FLATTERY!

14. I would Love you ten years before the Flood; And you should, if you please, refuse Till the conversion of the Jews. 10 My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow. Biblical Flood / Noah’s Ark Over 4000 years ago In Christian texts – just before the end of the world How long? HYPERBOLE? Why does he compare his love to a slow growing vegetable? Why does he use the phrase ‘vaster than empires”? How do we know he will not fall out of love with her quickly?

15. An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, 15 But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, 15 But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. How is time used to praise and flatter her?

16. For, lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate. 20 He called her “Mistress” before. Why does he now call her “lady”? How does this tally with what follows in the poem?

17. But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. START OF ANTITHESIS: we’ve been given the opening statement (thesis), now he discusses the reason why he can’t do as he’d like – the “But” What reason does he give for not being able to do what he would like?

18. HELIOS (or Helius) was the Titan god of the sun. He was also the guardian of oaths and the god of gift of sight. Helios dwelt in a golden palace located in the River Okeanos at the eastern ends of the earth. From there he emerged each dawn driving a chariot drawn by four, fiery winged steeds and crowned with the aureole of the sun. When he reached the land of the Hesperides (Evenings) in the West he descended into a golden cup which carried him around the northern streams of Okeanos back to his rising place in the East. ( www.theoi.com/Titan/Helios.html )

19. HELIOS

20. But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. START OF ANTITHESIS: we’ve been given the opening statement (thesis), now he discusses the reason why he can’t do as he’d like – the “But” Time = negative, lifeless eternity Rejection of afterlife which will bring relief Reflects rising religious scepticism of the time Desert image: barren, no sex = no children - dull relationship

21. Thy beauty shall no more be found, 25 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. 30 The grave's a fine and private place, But none I think do there embrace. Elegant but artificial – all very nice and honourable but worthless to him

22. Now therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew, And while thy willing soul transpires 35 At every pore with instant fires, SYNTHESIS – THE SOLUTION The threats disappear – approaches her more positively

23. Now let us sport us while we may; And now, like amorous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour, Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power. 40 More passionate images and words Hoping to gain eternity through sexual union – they should devour time rather than time devouring them Slow devouring jaws of time

24. Let us roll all our strength, and all Our sweetness, up into one ball; And tear our pleasures with rough strife Through the iron gates of life. Plural pronoun – union, togetherness Break down the “iron gates” of time

25. Thus, though we cannot make our sun 45 Stand still, yet we will make him run. Returns to the image of sun and time. What is his final point? On the surface, this poem is about the attempted seduction of a woman…what is the message underneath about how we should live our lives? PUN?

26. Time flies?

31. http://vccslitonline.vccs.edu/seduction-poetry/tohiscoymistress.html

32. TWO PARODIES

37. Overheard in the 'Coy Mistress‘ I think I need another gin - Your chat-up lines are wearing thin. In fact, you seem less hot than - coy. I start to feel you're just a boy. H ad we but world enough, and time, T his coyness, Lady, were no crime. Good Sir, I think you may confuse A grim offence with simple ruse. W e would sit down and think which way T o walk and pass our long love's day. To you it may seem long. To me It's rather short. At half-past three T hou by the Indian Ganges' side S houldst rubies find; I by the tide O f Humber would complain. I would - You would, you say? I ndeed I would

38. Love you ten years before the Flood And you should, if you please, refuse - But why on earth should I refuse? Till the conversion of the Jews. Jews? What's wrong with Jews? Why not? You talk about the Jews a lot. Well Buddhists then, if you prefer . Oh just get to the point, good Sir. My vegetable love should grow - Vegetable? Do you mean That bedroom-wise you're somewhat green - No vast experience then? Vaster than empires and more slow - Aha! You'll make a woman wait; Your vegetable may 'vegetate'. An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze; On about my eyes again. What about my knees? It's plain You really think I haven't guessed You're just about to bring in 'breast'. Two hundred to adore each breast - But thirty thousand to the rest... Men are obsessed with cars and numbers. Who, me?

39. Yes, you. You mentioned Humbers. Lady - you are indeed most sage - The most discerning of your age - An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. Heart? You think you're getting that? I'd call the chance of that - well - fat. For Lady, you deserve this state - What - fat? No, Madam - more like Fate. Nor would I love at lower rate. But at my back I always hear Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near - That reminds me. I should get A taxi ordered. Oh, not yet! Yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. I'm thirsty just to think of it. But Sir - you overstate a bit. What about another drink? No, no! Tis sad to think Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault -

40. The sound Of marble isn't really bound To woo. Let's go for 'alabaster' (Which incidentally rhymes with 'faster') Come on! What use is being profound Unless you kiss me? 'Kiss' shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserved virginity - Virginity? Oh please. How arid! I only said I wasn't married. And as for being tried by worms - Well - nothing doing on those terms. And your quaint 'Quaint?' I really must Take exception. Quaint is just - - just too much. - honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust - Ashes? Do you plan erupting? Yes, if you keep interrupting. The grave's a fine and private place - But none, I think, do there embrace My point exactly. Let us trace Unerring logic. My informer Says you'd like somewhere much warmer.

41. Now, therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew - Like dew? What's wrong with dew? Well, dew Sounds like a filthy dose of flu. I'm not so sure I'd like the hue Of me imbued with 'morning dew'. And while thy willing soul transpires At every pore with instant fires - Wait, wait! What now? Well, dew and fire Do not mix well. Now let us sport us - "Let us sport us"? You have the passion of a tortoise! Now let us sport us while we may - And now - You said 'now' twice. Make hay While sun permits. But in what way? I thought - like amorous birds of prey. Look here - no fetishes or freaks - Kisses, not pecks. Hugs, not beaks. Certain things I won't allow. And be consistent - 'you' or 'thou?

42. Rather at once our time devour Than languish in his slow-chapt power . Slow-chapt? Yes. I thought it apt To think of time as slow. But 'chapt'? Let us roll – A joint? Agreed. I need the solace of the weed. No, let's roll all our strength and all Our sweetness up into one ball - It's funny that you're drinking Becks . It rhymes, you know, with sex. Sex? Sex. Dear Lady, do not coolly utter Parlance fitter for the gutter. Wot we are the better for A subtly-managed metaphor. Let's tear our pleasures with rough strife Thorough the iron gates of life: Thus, though we cannot make our sun - Whose son? The sun , my love. Not son. Does that mean that you haven't one? Not what I heard. In fact, I thought You'd two or three. I think I ought To call that taxi. Talk's sublime But still - it's nearly pumpkin time. A good-night kiss?

43. Stand still. Stand still? You mean - well yes - of course I will. I've fancied you for ages, pet. I bet you noticed. No, not yet. I thought you had. For goodness sake Get on. Ahem. Right - We will make Our conversation last and last Until this glorious night is past And – No, good Sir. There's little joy In speechifying from the coy. Look here - I have a certain friend. He's not that confident. Pretend That you were me. What would you do If all he did was talk to you While you (that's me), were burning just To get a spot of naked lust? He's wilted somewhere near the stalk. He talks the talk, won't walk the walk. He's frankly - a pedestrian While you - Well can't you make him run?