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Andrew Marvell

To his coy mistress

Stanza Two & Three
Some more challenging questions!

Keith Tankard
Knowledge4Africa.com
Updated: 24 June 2012
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Andrew Marvell, a 17th century English poet, gently satirises the etiquette amongst society women of his day of feigning coyness or shyness at the advances of a suitor.

Although the etiquette was meant to last but a while before the relationship grew more intimate, Marvell nevertheless makes fun of it by protesting that it lasted too long. He uses a common poetic technique of his day of exaggerating the etiquette out of all proportion, making it seem that the woman would be coy forever.

The poet points out how, in a perfect world where time was not a factor, such coyness would be quite acceptable. In the real world, however, decay and death descend rapidly on us and we will therefore waste the wonderful world of sexual intercourse -- something he thought was best savoured while both people were young and their bodies at their glorious best.

In reality, although advances were indeed met with apparent coyness, once the woman was certain that this was the right man, she would often set up a tryst or secret meeting place where he and she would make love.

She needed, however, to protect herself and so she offered her virtue only on condition that they marry if she fell pregnant -- and she would usually arrange for a servant to be secretly on hand to bear witness to any pledge he might make but afterwards break.



ABOUT THE POET

Andrew Marvell was born in East Yorkshire in 1621, the son of an Anglican priest. Upon leaving school, he attended Trinity College (Cambridge University) from which he graduated with a Bachelors degree at a rather young age.

He worked as tutor to Oliver Cromwell's ward during the era of England's republic after the Puritans had overthrown the King. He then became a Member of Parliament during the republican era, a post he managed to maintain even after the restoration of the monarchy in 1661.

Although himself a Puritan, Marvell is nevertheless best known for his metaphysical verse, and is best associated with such poets as John Donne and George Herbert. For a while, he also assisted John Milton who, becoming increasing blind, needed help in the recording of his poetry.

Marvell died in 1678 at the age of 57.

Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:



"But at my back I always hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity."
  • Show how, as the poet moves into his "seize the moment" argument, his choice of words has dramatically changed from those of the previous stanza. (4)

[Need help?]

  • Why is "Time" personified here? (4)

[Need help?]




"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."
  • What does the poet mean when he says, "in thy marble vault"? (2)

[Need help?]

  • Explain how the poet's technique contrasts elements of grandeur with the absolute mundane. (4)

[Need help?]

  • The poet is very explicit in pointing out that he wants sexual intercourse with the woman. How is this shown? (2)

[Need help?]

  • What word tells you that the poet believes the woman's coyness is rather silly and with no real meaning? (2)

[Need help?]




"The grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there embrace."
  • Comment on the poet's playing with words when he speaks of the grave being a "private place". (4)

[Need help?]




"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."
  • The poet expresses an opinion that the woman secretly really wants to become sexually active with him. Explain in your own words how one knows this. (4)

[Need help?]




"Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run."
  • Comment on the two images of the sun that are presented in these lines. (4)

[Need help?]




Who do you think was more realistic: the poet who was persuading the woman to have sex with him or the woman who appeared to desire remaining a virgin? (6)

[Need help?]




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