Analysis of 3 poems
The three poems “The Passionate Shepard to His Love”, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”, and “To His Coy Mistress” contain similarities and differences. The synonymity and variations between these poems are found within the subjects, themes, and tones.
The subject matter of these poems varies among each other. “The Passionate Shepard to His Love” is about a man, the speaker, attempting to convince his love to surrender to him and return his love. He attempts this by listing all the beautiful items that he will give her. “A gown made of the finest wool, /… Fair lined slippers for the cold.” The speaker of “To His Coy Mistress” is also trying to win the heart of his love, but he attempts this in a different way. He uses the carpe diem theme to reason that they must live life to its fullest while they are still young. The speaker of this poem states his belief that waiting too long for love is a waste. “… then worms shall try/ That long-preserved virginity, / And your quaint honor turn to dust.” The speaker of “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” also urges young women to marry while they are still in their youth. The difference is that the speaker is giving general advice to all women and not courting just one.
All three poems share the common theme of carpe diem. All of the poems tell the reader that life doesn’t last forever so you must live life to the fullest. The last stanza of “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” shows this theme. “Then be not coy, but use your time, / And, while ye may, go marry;/ For having lost but once you prime.” The poem “To His Coy Mistress” displays this theme also. The speaker states this theme when he says “Let us roll all our strength and all/ Our sweetness up into one ball, / And tear our pleasures with rough strife”. He is stating that he desires for him and his lover to glean all their strength and love, so that they may live life to the fullest. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” presents this theme, but not as directly as the other poems. The speaker’s opening statement, “Come live with me and...