Sex in Poetry

A detailed Summary of Sex in Poetry

Although Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" and Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" share many similarities and differences, both men have one basic purpose for their poems, to talk the women into being their loves using promises of beautiful and mostly unattainable things.

Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" is one of the era's most famous expressions of the carpe diem motif. The speaker attempts to persuade his mistress into having sex with him. The speaker seems very frustrated, impatient, and presents a sense of urgency in pursuing this goal. Marvell hints towards this eagerness as he talks about time being devoured when he says, "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-chapped power."(Lines 38-40) When analyzed carefully the poem can be broken into three sections, each with a different meaning. The first section refers to his extreme commitment to her, while the second focuses more on lust and the loss of it with death, and the final section concen

and be my love"(line 1). This begins the poem on a more serious note. The speaker loves this woman and wants to spend is life with her. He then proceeds to bribe the girl with the finest gifts. The shepherd says he "shall dance and sing / For thy delight each May morning,"(Lines 1-2) which is an example of how happy he would be if she were to accept him.

Both writers use figurative language quite effectively to add to the intensity of the poem. While Christopher Marlowe promises more material things that most people know are not possible for a shepherd to obtain. Perhaps the best example is when he tells her he will not have to work, as if the sheep will tend to themselves. He promises her a

eyes"(Lines 13-14). In lines fifteen through sixteen he offers "Two hundred to adore each breast; / But thirty thousand to the rest." Once again referring to time and trying to hurry the woman he says, "But, at my back, I always hear / Time's winged chariot hurrying near"(Lines 21-22).

her "ten years before the flood"(line 8). He also promises to love her one hundred years to adore

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Approximate Word count = 730
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Sex in Poetry

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