Back in the seventeenth century, a woman’s responsibility was to preserve her virginity until marriage. A woman who had sexual intercourse before her wedding was considered undesirable and a slut. At the same time, men had sexual needs and desires that they wanted to fulfill, may they be married to the woman of their choice or not. Dealing with this issue of virginity and the concept of using time to its fullest (carpe diem—Latin for “seize the day”) are two of the most famous poems of this time. Robert Herrick’s “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” as well as Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” have a similar opinion about how a woman should use her youth and virginity, but have different ideas about whether to get married first or not.
Table of Contents
- Female Virginity and Male Desire in Seventeenth Century Carpe Diem Poetry
- Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time"
- Themes and Symbolism
- Religious and Pagan Allegories
- Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"
- Persuasion and Stylistic Methods
- Religious Allegories and Imagery
- Comparison of the Poems
Objectives and Key Themes
This text analyzes two prominent 17th-century "carpe diem" poems, Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" and Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress," examining how they address the societal expectations of female virginity and male desire. The analysis explores the poets' use of symbolism, religious and pagan allegories, and stylistic devices to convey their messages about the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, and the urgency of seizing the day.
- The societal expectations surrounding female virginity in the 17th century.
- The contrasting perspectives on the timing of marriage and sexual experience.
- The use of nature imagery and symbolism to represent the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of beauty.
- The incorporation of religious and pagan allegories to enhance the poems' meaning and impact.
- The analysis of stylistic techniques employed by the poets to emphasize their arguments.
Chapter Summaries
Female Virginity and Male Desire in Seventeenth Century Carpe Diem Poetry: This introductory section sets the stage by outlining the historical context of 17th-century societal norms regarding female virginity and male sexual desire. It introduces the two poems that will be analyzed—Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" and Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"—and highlights their shared theme of "carpe diem" while also noting their differing perspectives on the ideal timing of marriage and sexual activity. The introduction establishes the key themes and questions that will be explored throughout the analysis.
Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time": This section delves into a detailed analysis of Herrick's poem, exploring its structure, imagery, and thematic concerns. The poem's use of natural imagery, such as flowers and the sun, to symbolize the fleeting nature of youth and beauty is examined, alongside the underlying message urging young women to marry and experience love while they are still young. The analysis also unpacks the poem's religious and pagan allegories, demonstrating how Herrick blends Christian and pagan traditions to reinforce his message about the importance of seizing the moment.
Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress": This section offers a comprehensive analysis of Marvell's poem, focusing on the speaker's attempt to persuade his mistress to engage in sexual relations. The analysis explores the poem's stylistic elements, including the use of personal pronouns and religious imagery, to illustrate how Marvell creates a persuasive argument while simultaneously highlighting the social and religious context of the poem's themes. The clever use of religious allusions, both directly and ironically, is examined in depth, revealing the complexity of the speaker's intentions.
Comparison of the Poems: While not explicitly a chapter, the concluding section compares and contrasts the two poems, emphasizing their similarities and differences in their approaches to the theme of "carpe diem" and the societal expectations surrounding female virginity and male desire. The analysis highlights the unique stylistic choices and thematic nuances that distinguish each poem while also underscoring the shared cultural and historical context that shaped their creation. The section emphasizes the commonalities in the use of religious imagery despite their different perspectives on the urgency of seizing the day.
Keywords
Seventeenth-century poetry, carpe diem, female virginity, male desire, Robert Herrick, Andrew Marvell, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," "To His Coy Mistress," religious allegory, natural imagery, stylistic analysis, social norms, persuasion, time, youth, beauty, marriage, sexuality.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" and Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"
What is the main focus of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive analysis of two prominent 17th-century "carpe diem" poems: Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" and Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress." It examines how these poems address societal expectations of female virginity and male desire within their historical context.
What key themes are explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes, including societal expectations surrounding female virginity in the 17th century, contrasting perspectives on the timing of marriage and sexual experience, the use of nature imagery and symbolism to represent the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of beauty, the incorporation of religious and pagan allegories, and the stylistic techniques employed by the poets to emphasize their arguments.
What poems are analyzed in detail?
The text offers in-depth analyses of both Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" and Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress." Each poem is examined individually, focusing on its structure, imagery, thematic concerns, and stylistic devices.
How does the analysis approach Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time"?
The analysis of Herrick's poem explores its use of natural imagery (flowers, sun) to symbolize the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. It also examines the poem's religious and pagan allegories, showing how Herrick blends traditions to reinforce his message about seizing the moment. The underlying message urging young women to marry and experience love while young is also discussed.
How does the analysis approach Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"?
The analysis of Marvell's poem focuses on the speaker's attempt to persuade his mistress to engage in sexual relations. It examines the poem's stylistic elements, such as the use of personal pronouns and religious imagery, to show how Marvell constructs a persuasive argument within a specific social and religious context. The complex and potentially ironic use of religious allusions is analyzed in depth.
How are the two poems compared and contrasted?
The concluding section compares and contrasts the two poems, highlighting their similarities and differences in their approaches to "carpe diem" and societal expectations. It emphasizes unique stylistic choices and thematic nuances while also underscoring the shared cultural and historical context of their creation. The analysis particularly notes the common use of religious imagery despite their differing perspectives on seizing the day.
What is the historical context provided in the text?
The text establishes the historical context of 17th-century societal norms regarding female virginity and male sexual desire, providing a foundation for understanding the poems' themes and messages within their cultural landscape.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Seventeenth-century poetry, carpe diem, female virginity, male desire, Robert Herrick, Andrew Marvell, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," "To His Coy Mistress," religious allegory, natural imagery, stylistic analysis, social norms, persuasion, time, youth, beauty, marriage, sexuality.
What is the overall objective of this text?
The overall objective is to provide a structured and professional academic analysis of two significant 17th-century poems, examining their themes, stylistic techniques, and the societal context in which they were written. It aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the poems' meaning and significance.
- Quote paper
- Romina Müller (Author), 2011, Female Virginity and Male Desire in Seventeenth Century Carpe Diem Poetry, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/174798
