1. To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell 1 Born in Hull in 1621. At the age of 12, he began his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge. His studies were brought to an abrupt end when he was 20 with his father ’ s death. He spent much of the 1640s travelling round Europe and managed to miss fighting in the English civil war…but did return to become first a tutor and then an MP and used satire to great effect to attack his political enemies, especially the rich and landowning loyalists. His death, in 1678, was supposedly of a fever, but a religious group, the Jesuits, whom he had attacked, were suspected of poisoning him. Want to know more? CLICK HERE (this is an external link to Wikipedia.org)

2. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 2 The Metaphysical poets A group of poets from the early 1600s who were concerned with the subject of what it is to be human and tended to concentrate on those aspects that seem to set us aside from other animals. They dealt with serious topics such as love and the relationship between man and God. The structure of the poetry reflects the content and they are often structured as arguments. Metaphysical poems are characterised by the use of wit, irony and wordplay and although often comic on the surface, deal with serious topics underneath. To read more about the Metaphysicals click here (this is an external link)here

3. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 3 Had we but world enough, and time

4. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 4 Had we but world enough, and time The poem opens straight away with the theme – that of time. It examines the brevity of life with an argument to ‘ seize the day. ’ – Carpe Diem. How does the use of the personal pronoun help to persuade? Had we but world enough, and time Makes it sound like they are united against time.

5. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 5 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. As in any argument, we begin with the problem. What is the problem that needs resolving? The opening problem can also be referred to as the thesis, or statement. It is the issue that needs to be discussed and resolved. An attempt to escape from time to an idyllic life where they may pass each ‘ long ’ day together. The thesis

6. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 6 A Lyric poem deals with a single theme with a goal of evoking emotion. It presents a single speaker who presents his / her thoughts. The regular rhythm and rhyme helps to give the poem an almost comic feel which contrasts strongly with the underlying theme of life and death. 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. This is a lyric poem. The poem has octosyllabic lines (eight syllables per line) and contains rhyming couplets. Structure and form Click here for more about lyric poems Click here for more information

7. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 7 I by the tide Of Humber would complain. Flattery Her: by the side of the River Ganges in India with rubies Him: by the side of the River Humber in Hull What effect does this comparison have? Thou by the Indian Ganges' side Should ’ st rubies find; http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirque-du-pablo/2215467828/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/falsepositives/2879202638/

8. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 8 I would Love you ten years before the Flood, Why does he say he would have loved her ten years before Noah ’ s Ark (meant to have happened over 4000 years ago)? And he will love her until the Jews become Christian. This event is recorded in Christian texts as taking place just before the end of the world… So, how long will he love her? What is the effect of this hyperbole (exaggeration)? And you should, if you please, refuse Till the conversion of the Jews.

9. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 9 My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow; Why does he compare his love to a slow-growing vegetable? Why does he use the phrase ‘ vaster than empires ’ ? How do you know he will not fall out of love with her quickly?

10. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 10 A 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. How is time used to praise and flatter her?

11. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 11 For, Lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate. He called her ‘ Mistress ’ before. Why does he now call her ‘ Lady ’ ? How does this statement tally with what follows in the poem?

12. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 12 But at my back I always hear Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Rejection of afterlife. A reflection of the times with rising religious scepticism. Click HERE for more information on religious influence (internal link)HERE Start of antithesis: We ’ ve been given the opening statement; now for the reason why he can ’ t do as he ’ d like – the ‘ but ’. What reason does he give? Time is again present here, but rather than an idyllic life, it is now a negative lifeless eternity. Helios was a Greek god who would ride across the sky in his fiery chariot chasing away the stars.

13. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 13 The grave's a fine and private place, But none, I think, do there embrace What threats is he making? Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserved virginity, And your quaint honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaqi an/148765120/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jylcat/133930052/ http://www.flickr.com/ph otos/nostri- imago/3161934616/

14. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 14 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, Synthesis – the solution: Now for the final part of the poem. The threats disappear but how does he now talk to her? How has his speech become more positive? Introducing the idea of passion

15. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 15 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. Time again. Hoping to gain eternity though togetherness. Need to devour it rather than let it devour them. More passionate images and words Slow devouring jaws

16. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 16 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. Return of togetherness Lots of positive strong images. Strong image of breaking through the ‘ iron gates ’ of time.

17. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 17 Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run. Return of the image of the sun and time. What is the final point made? On the surface, this is a poem about the attempted seduction of a woman… what is the message underneath about how we should live our lives?

18. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 18 More about religion Apparently, the speaker has been influenced by such people as Copernicus (1473- 1543), who proved that the earth is not the centre of the universe; Francis Bacon (1561-1626), who advocated the method of inductive reasoning; and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), whose philosophy of materialism contradicted the biblical view of humanity. Indeed, the speaker ’ s argument is somewhat akin to that of atheistic existentialism which regards inner or subjective experience as more important than “ objective ” truth. Atheistic existentialists also have faith in every person ’ s ability to choose for himself for his attitudes, purposes, values, and way of life (Stevenson 78). Marvell ’ s speaker, who apparently has been searching for the meaning of existence, has determined that life is transitory, that there is no afterlife, and that the only option left for him is to enjoy his life fully indulging in carnal pleasure. Click here to return to main presentationhere

19. To His Coy Mistressby Andrew Marvell 19 More about the social and historical setting The man and his coy lady belong to ‘ high ’ culture, aloof from the real world. The man ’ s dense diction and witty argument show that he is a well-educated gentleman as is his mistress, as a woman from a ‘ low ’ class would have a hard time following him. The poem ignores the reality of the society in which they live. He completely ignores the abject poverty of commoners in his time and the problems facing society. The Great Plague killed some 75,000 Londoners in mid-seventeenth century at a time when syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases were common. The Great Plague was only controlled by another disaster, the Great Fire of London in 1666. Click here to return to main presentationhere