ENG. 1102 Paper 1 Carpe Diem Poetry “To The Virgins, To Make A lot of Time” by Robert Herrick and “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell are two nice examples of Carpe Diem poetry. Their vivid imagery, symbolism, and utilization of simile and metaphor are what make these poems memorable. Their utilization of those phrases additionally makes the poems extra inviting and makes the utilization of the Carpe Diem custom extra obvious. Probably risque for his or her occasions, I discover each poems considerably romantic and tame for our time interval.
The first metaphor of “To The Virgins, To Make A lot Of Time” is “Collect ye rosebuds whereas ye might, previous time continues to be a-flying; and this similar flower that smiles right this moment, tomorrow will likely be dying”(961). This opening metaphor makes it clear that the theme of this poem is Carpe Diem. From my understanding and likewise from my introductory Latin class Carpe Diem is popularly often known as “Seize the Day” although this isn’t the literal translation. Roses are recent and supple like youth; they’re fragile, stunning, and pure. These are traits additionally related to virgins. I’ve discovered in lots of literary works that virginity is in comparison with a rose.
Herrick is urging the younger to take pleasure in their youth earlier than it evades them. “The wonderful lamp of heaven, the solar, the upper he’s a getting, the earlier will his race be run, and nearer he’s to setting” is one other metaphor utilizing the personification of the solar to point out the passage of time (916). The solar is an instance of life; the extra time that passes, or the moderately the farther the race is run, is the nearer life is to return to an finish or the nearer to the solar setting. The solar and it’s rising and setting is one thing that could be very generally used on obituaries to mark the start and dying of an individual. That age is finest which is the primary, when youth and blood are hotter; however being spent, the more serious, and worst occasions nonetheless succeed the previous” (916). The earlier passage is the speaker saying that the whole lot is best when you’re younger. You’re livelier and extra heat blooded once you’re younger; and the whole lot after that will get worse and worse. That is true from a physiological standpoint; as you age the best way your hormones work change and the method that construct up substances wanted in your physique sluggish and at occasions cease, an instance of this medically is osteoporosis.
The final stanza of the poem reads, “Then be not coy, however use your time; and whereas ye might, go marry: For having misplaced however as soon as your prime, chances are you’ll for ever tarry” (916). I imagine the speaker is saying to the reader don’t be shy, don’t waste your youth, marry now whereas your younger and sweetness; and while you’re crammed with life and vigor. As soon as your magnificence is gone it could be tougher or it could be one thing that you could be by no means do. Because of this poem being within the love and hate part of our guide and likewise with it being about virgins, I can’t Help, however suppose that this additionally has some refined sexual connotations as nicely.
I feel this as a result of the speaker is urging virgins and never simply individuals on the whole to profit from life. The speaker additionally makes use of the symbolism of the rose as a comparability for youth, however a lady transitioning for a virgin can also be in comparison with a flower blooming. Between “To The Virgins, To Make A lot Of Time” and “To His Coy Mistress” I discover that “To His Coy Mistress” makes use of probably the most imagery; and due to that it’s my favourite of the 2 poems. “Had we however world sufficient, and time, this coyness, girl, have been no crime. We’d sit down, and suppose which solution to stroll, and move our lengthy love’s day.
Although by the Indian Ganges’ facet shouldst rubies discover; I by the facet of Humber would complain” (951). I discovered this opening stanza essential, as a result of it set the stage for the Carpe Diem theme. The speaker has examine the women coyness to a criminal offense as a result of they don’t have sufficient time. This mechanically says to me as he reader that he desires her to surrender her shyness and provides into him as a result of they might by no means get the possibility. He spends telling him mistress on a regular basis he would spend praising her physique, however saves her coronary heart final.
Although he recommend that he would take his time loving his mistress he then states, “For, girl, you deserve this state, nor would I really like at a decrease charge. However at my again I all the time hear time’s winged chariot hurrying close to” (951). That is the speaker once more stating that there’s not sufficient time for them to attend any longer as a result of time is rapidly approaching. The speaker additionally states that his lust for her will flip to ash quickly in the event that they proceed to attend and that her lengthy preserved virginity and honor will even flip to mud. He’s urging his mistress to be with him by always referencing dying, “The graves a wonderful and personal lace, however none, I feel, do there embrace” (951). I’ve discovered that of the 2 poems that “To His Coy Mistress doesn’t put as a lot emphasis of seizing the day on the whole, however extra so of seizing the second now sexually. Although there have been some references from the speaker about is mistress coronary heart many of the references have been with regard to his sexual needs. He references love a number of occasions, however warps it along with his speedy trigger for motion. Evidently this speaker is utilizing his love for her or saying that he has love for his mistress as a solution to result in her deflowering.
This have to be one thing that could be a recurring pattern throughout time intervals as this may also be discovered far more obvious and far more regularly in our time interval. Works Cited Herrick, Robert. “To The Virgins, To Make A lot Of Time. ” Abcarian, Richard, Marvin Klotz, and Samuel Cohen. Literature: The Human Expertise. 10th. Boston: Bedford/st Martins, 2010. 916 Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress. ”Abcarian, Richard, Marvin Klotz, and Samuel Cohen. Literature: The Human Expertise. 10th. Boston: Bedford/st Martins, 2010. 950-951
