To His Coy Mistress
Read this poem. Each stanza makes up one part of a syllogism. Tell us what you think the overall meaning of the poem is and then break it down into the three stanzas relaying what the purpose of each may be. Is the speaker a good rhetor? Why or why not?
I believe that the overall message of this poem is about love and the longevity of it. The writer seems to be speaking about something that he thinks is beautiful and admirable. He is also talking about how he will love that person forever and wishes that they had more time on this earth. He is also saying that life is short and so that makes love short. He discusses how he wishes it were slower so he could take it all in. Since the world has to end sooner or later though he recognizes that it all moves so fast and that also means love shouldn't just be forgotten about. The first stanza is mainly talking about how if they had enough time then they would think of their love at a slower rate and appreciate it more. Also in the first stanza he says that no matter what his love will never slow down and that the person he is writing to deserves everything. The second stanza expresses that he is thinking of how is time on earth is getting shorter and shorter every day, but that time will never change the woman's beauty. I believe he thinks death isn't such a bad thing because it really doesn't change the way he feels. In the third stanza, he realizes that because there isn't enough time that him and the person he is speaking to must live their lives to the fullest. They must accomplish everything that they can and never turn back. I do believe that Marvell possesses some attributes of a rhetor. He uses a lot of reason and emotion which tie well together. I do not see much ethos in this poem though. Overall, this poem was a bit hard to understand but I enjoyed reading and analyzing it.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you talked about whether he included ethos, logos, or pathos. I agree with the majority of your essay about this topic, especially the part about how hard it was to understand and analyze. It was quite difficult for me also. Great job!
DeleteYour analysis of his poem definitely shows that you took the time to critically think about the poem's message. However, I did take a slightly different message out of the second stanza. I felt he was saying that, eventually, with death, lies the resting place of love also, which, in my blog, I take issue with.
DeleteI agree with all of your opinions, particularly on the second stanza. I definitely agree that, while he recognizes that his time is limited, that will never change anything about the way he feels for his significant other. On the rhetoric, however, I'm confused. Did you see any ethos at all, or just a little? I agree that it was a little light on ethos, but I didn't think it was absent.
DeleteThe entire poem is mainly about love. I think the speaker is a man while talking about a woman he loves. I can't tell if they are married or not, I would assume so since they love each other. The first stanza starts by talking about how the couple could spend their days together. He proclaims his love that would grow on forever. Then specifically talks on how he would love each part of her body, while making his way to her heart, the final destination. Lastly, he talked about how she deserved what he was giving to her and how he would never love her at a lower rate. The second stanza relays the message of how time will eventually end and death will draw near. He states how eternity is always at his back, reminding him about his time on earth. He wants to make love to his mistress before death. The third stanza starts with the man talking about the woman and her youthful tone, much like morning dew. He then states how they should just go for it, like birds of prey. He doesn't want them to waste time away while they age. He wants to creat the pleasure while they can. This speaker is a very impressive rhetor. He uses many different analogies and unique phrases to symbolize modern day context. He almost covers up the meaning of the true text with other words. His use of words was absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think you explained each stanza very well. However, I think there's more to the second stanza than just how "time will eventually end and death will draw near." Otherwise, great work!
DeleteWithin Andrew Marvell’s poem, “To His Coy Mistress,” the most important theme seems to be the correlation between life and love. This theme revolves around the syllogism present throughout the three stanzas within: if life is long, then so is love; but, since life is short, love is also. By recognizing each individual part of the syllogism within the separate stanzas, the process of discerning Andrew Marvell’s message becomes a lighter task.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem’s first stanza, the major premise of the indirectly stated syllogism is primarily presented in the following lines: “Had we but world enough and time, this coyness lady, were no crime …. I would love you ten years before the flood, and you should, if you please, refuse till the conversion of the Jews.” These lines are clearly intended for the reader to think that if life lasted for eternity, it would not matter when love is found, but only that it is found; then, the major premise of the syllogism would read, as mentioned earlier, if life is long, then so is love.
However, as we all know, including Andrew Marvell, we are not physically immortal. In the poem’s second stanza, Andrew Marvell writes, “But at my back I always hear time’s winged chariot hurrying near.” In this way, the minor premise of the syllogism is that life is short. One day, he says that the individual’s beauty will no longer be found at some point; it will disappear.
Finally, in the poem’s final stanza, the major and minor premises are connected to formulate the conclusion: because life is short, so is love. So, because love is short, Marvell draws a further conclusion: one must make the best of love and compassion, not merely dwell on it until the time comes, as one day, it will end.
In some ways, I do feel that Andrew Marvell is an accomplished rhetor. He is successful in creating a syllogism, and using imagery to describe this syllogism, which in many ways, is appealing to the reader. As Sady wrote, he ties this logic in well with emotion to create an image-filled poem. However, I do not feel that his message was true. He essentially states that once life ends, so does love. But does love really ever die? Sure, the person may not be standing directly beside, behind, or in front of us; but the memories and the love felt for that person, I would like to think, remain in our hearts and minds for eternity.
I really enjoyed how you quoted some of the poem and then explained the meaning of it. You also did a great job of describing the meaning of "To His Coy Mistress."
DeleteI think this is a great analysis. I enjoy how you had quotes form the poem and connecting them all. I also liked how you formed the syllogisms to create a better analysis of the poem. Great job!
DeleteYou did an extremely good job on this. I really liked how you broke down the major and minor premises, and used quotations to back up your reasonings behind the syllogisms. Very well done!
DeleteI really like your analysis on this poem. You broke down all of the premises and made each step of Marvell's thinking really clear. Your use of quotes as evidence and to help with thinking every part of this poem through was also exceptionally well done. Good job overall.
DeleteAfter reading this poem many times, I believe the overall meaning of the poem is about a man loving his mistress. Therefore, the theme deals with love. The whole poem talks about how much love this man has for the girl. Also, he describes what their days are like together. While I was reading this, I was unsure of what coyness meant. After looking it up, I think the first stanza is all about how the guy did not have enough time to completely show how much he loved the girl. If there was more time in a day, then he would have time to pay more attention to her. The second stanza is about death. In the lines, "Thy beauty shall no more be found; Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound my echoing song; then worms shall try that long-preserved virginity" the man is trying to convince the woman to have sex with him before they die. In the third stanza, the man is trying to be more forceful in order to get what he wants. All he keeps stressing is how they will die soon. I thought that Andrew Marvell is a pretty good rhetor. I think Andrew used lots of logos, ethos, and pathos in his poem. However, it was very difficult to understand this poem because of the type of wording he used throughout the poem. Otherwise, I thought it was written very well.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do agree with you on the fact that the poem is about intense love, I don't really think that getting this girl into bed with him before he dies is the real meaning of the second and third stanzas. I'm not saying that's not what the guy is thinking, but I feel like it's about more than consummating a relationship. I feel that it's more about getting the girl to realize how he feels about her and that he wants to spend every waking hour with her, because we all live on borrowed time. Not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying that I think the second stanza isn't just about what he wants to happen when the shades are pulled and the lights go out.
DeleteI also got something different out of the second stanza, but I can definitely see your point of view and why you said that. Other than that, I agree with all of your other points.
DeleteAs has been the consensus, I also think that “To His Coy Mistress” is definitely about love, life, and time. I also feel that Andrew Marvell is trying to tell how much he appreciates and cares for his significant other. When we read the title of the poem, we can tell immediately that this poem was written out of love for someone. Based on some quick Googling, I found that the word “coy” means “modest and gentle.” If that doesn’t scream ooey-gooey love right there, I don’t know what does. Getting into it here, I feel that the first stanza definitely focuses on the narrator wishing he could live forever, feeling that the time he is allotted here on Earth is inadequate for expressing his true love for his mistress. As such, the first stanza brings with it a somewhat somber, longing tone. The second stanza continues this tone at first, but when I read it over again, I felt that the narrator, while disgruntled due to the fact that his earthly time with his lover is finite, is likely encouraged by the promise of eternal life with her. Thinking about that gives this stanza a bittersweet tone. The third stanza, to me, shows the narrators commitment to his significant other in all its glory, with the last two lines really driving the point home. By saying that, while he can’t make the sun stand still, he can make the sun run, I feel that the narrator is saying that he is indeed in it for the long haul, through thick and thin, through good and bad. No matter where life takes them, this guy will be right by her side. All things considered, I think Marvell is certainly a skilled rhetor. This poem, being so mushy-gushy, just oozes pathos. I’m a very emotionless person, but reading this poem a couple of times got me thinking, “How sweet is this guy? That’s actually kind of beautiful.” I need not say much more; this poem, with its lovey-dovey subject matter, is pathos in its purest form. Marvell also establishes ethos immediately when he points out the lady’s coyness. His credibility is bolstered by how he feels about his woman. Marvell also appeals to logos when he states that he knows he’s not long for this world, as none of us are. Marvell is definitely a skilled rhetor.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you thought of the poem being not only about love. I also thought it was a great idea to look up "coy" to have a better understanding of the poem overall. Great analysis!
DeleteJarret, I really enjoyed your analysis of the poem, as it provided different insight into the poem. However, I do disagree with some of what you said. I personally felt, in many ways, that Marvell's thoughts on love were, to say the least, abnormal and disgusting. I feel that his love for her is more based on lust than anything, as in the second stanza, he writes that the "worms shall try that long preserved virginity," and, later, "your quaint honor turn to dust, and into ashes all my lust." To paraphrase his writing, he also says that death is private where none can embrace. Because of this, I just don't feel that he believes in eternal life nor any love other than that which is physical and full of lust.
Delete“To His Coy Mistress” is about love. This poem was extremely hard to understand at first read, but after reading it a few times, I could understand it to a point where I could fill in the blanks. In the first stanza, the man wishing he had more time to love his mistress. He was near the end of his life, I suppose, and he did not regret his love for this woman. He wishes he could have more time to do things with this woman, like grow a garden. In the second stanza, he tells the woman that there is not any time left. When he talks about the chariot, I believe he is talking about death and that it is coming for everyone. He wants to be with this woman before death comes and cherish her. In the third stanza, I feel, the man wants to do these various things with the woman he loves so dearly before this death comes upon them. He also says that, in their present, they can do stuff right there. They can enjoy each other's company while they still have time. The man wants death to chase them so he will make do with the time he has left.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Andrew Marvel is a great rhetor. He used a lot of pathos to appeal to love and fear of not having enough time to enjoy our loved ones. He also used imagery with syllogism which gives the reader more of a connection, I feel, with the poem. Overall, I believe that the poem was awesome and really described this man’s love for another woman
It definitely was a tough piece. I tried to write mine Friday, but needed to think on it longer because I didn’t understand it. I also enjoyed the part about connecting with the reader. That is a really important part of any work. Great job!
DeleteI think Marvell's poem's theme was quite obvious, which was the connection made between love and life. The speaker has a very deep and passionate affection for his significant other. You can tell right from the beginning with the title. In the first stanza, I think the narrator is trying to describe his desire to live and love forever, and he is unhappy with the amount of time he has on earth to do so. He feels he does not have enough time to give his everything to her. In the second stanza, the tone is similar to the first, dealing again with time. Death is coming closer and closer to him, time is running short. He says "But at my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying near." I think this means death is approaching and time running out, quicker than he wishes. The third stanza talks mainly about making the most out of their time while they are still able to. Realizing that time is short, he wants life to be as fulfilling as possible, not wasting any time. I think the rhetoric was very good, combining a lot of imagery into the syllogisms, and writing with a lot of emotion with logic and reasoning behind it. By using both of these, the speaker does a very good job of getting their message across.
ReplyDeleteI like how you used a line from the poem because it further supports your claim about death coming near to the man. I agree that the speaker is a good rhetor because he is thorough, great job!
DeleteI think, as nearly everyone else does, that this poem is about love, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (haha). It’s a man making a plea for his significant other to sense just how deep his love for her is. In the first stanza, he expresses his love and how if he’d have enough time on this Earth it would grow even deeper than it is. The second gives examples of how his love would deepen over time had he had forever on this earth to love this girl. It briefly delves into imagery on how this might transpire. The third moves into a slightly more morbid tone. It speaks of the finality of life and the imminent eventuality of the death that awaits everyone. But also, it expresses a desire to love fully and deeply before this eventuality becomes a reality. The fourth is along the lines of outlining, while the couple are still alive, what they would do with their youth and exuberance while they are in love and alive. In short, I do think the author is a good rhetor, as he uses many appeals in a great way. He also uses syllogisms like a true master.
ReplyDeleteI really like your intro sentence, good idea. Also, I think you really hit the mark with each stanza. Great point that the words the man speaks creates an image of how his love will continue. Great job!
DeleteIn “To His Coy Mistress,”Marvell is first speaking about how much he would love someone. The title includes coy because it refers to a mistress because this means that she is shy but alluring. In the first part, he expresses how much he would love her, “My vegetable love should grow, Vaster than empires and more slow;.” He continues with his praise for her by using specific values of how much time he should adore her body parts, including her heart and eyes. He wants to love her, but I feel like she is not up to accepting his love. He uses ethos by this praise because it would get her attention and make her feel good. In the second stanza, he uses pathos to state that life isn’t for ever so they must come together. He says he does not want to die without giving his mistress his love. This is the rhetor using logos because he is correct, death is forever and life is temporary. Also, he uses pathos again to say that beauty is taken away in the grave. Next, he changes his tone by concluded that the mistress must love him or else her beauty will be wasted. More specifically, he hints that they should have sex, like the birds. Also, he attempts to further convince the lady by saying that they should take all their strength and use it to have sex. The speaker , in my opinion, is not a bad rhetor. He starts by drawing the mistress in with compliments and promises of love. People, for the most part, like to be liked. The speaker uses his pathos in the second stanza to tell her that she will die and her beauty will be taken away. Using death as his subject is smart because it seems to scare or worry people. Lastly, he sums up his syllogism by saying again that it would make sense if they were to come together.
ReplyDeleteI like how you utilized logos, ethos, and pathos to prove that Marvell was a good rhetor, good job!
DeleteI love how you tied all the syllogism together. Also great idea bringing up pathos, logos, and ethos. Good job
DeleteThe most important message I found in Andrew Marvell's poem is that there is always a limit. No matter how much someone may care, they will one day die. This message is summarized in the first stanza when Marvell writes, “Of Humber would complain. I would love you ten years before the flood And you should, if you please, refuse.” Marvell is implying that with infinite time, he and the mistress could dote on each other for centuries. This defines the major premise of the poem, if we had infinite time, we could love infinitely.
ReplyDeleteSadly for Marvell, he does not have as much time as he wants, as he describes in the second stanza, where he says, “But at my back I always hear Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near.” One day, time will catch up with them, and they will die. This defines the second part of the syllogism Marvell is describing, we do not have infinite time.
The third stanza reveals what Marvell has been implying in the previous two stanzas, as shown when he says, “Now therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew… Let us roll all our strength and all Our sweetness up into one ball.” Marvell wants to make the most of the time he has. This defines the conclusion of the syllogism Marvell has been creating through the entire poem, since we do not have infinite time, we cannot love infinitely. Marvell wants to make the most of the time he has left.
I do believe that Marvell is an accomplished rhetor, he manages to create one overarching syllogism out of the three stanzas of his poem, while also using imagery to support his syllogism. Although I do not agree with the overall message, death is not the true end for a person on Earth. As Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom famously said, “That's when I will truly be dead - when I exist in no one’s memory. I thought a lot about how someone very old is the last living individual to have known some people or cluster of people. When that person dies, the whole cluster dies, too, vanishes from living memory. I wonder who that person will be for me. Whose death will make me truly dead?” Yalom says that as long as there are people to remember you, you are not dead. Even if someone dies, the people who were close to them are still there to remember. It could be a spouse, a child, a grandchild, or a coworker who keep people alive through their memories of them. That person continues to have a lasting impact on the people who are still alive. You yourself may not be around anymore, but the people whose lives you have affected, and the people who loved you, are there to remember the person you were.
I really like your use of Irvin Yalom's outlook on death as it is so true. Good job!
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ReplyDeleteAndrew Marvel's poem, "To His Coy Mistress" has two very major themes. These themes are the concept of dreams, and the concept of restrictions. The concept of dreams deals with the hopes and loves of the narrator, while the concept of restrictions fights the dreams with the fast pace of time and shortness of life. The first stanza is about the speaker's dreams. He talks about how he wishes he could be with his lover forever instead of having to take things so fast. He dreams of being able to spend hundreds of years adoring each part of her body. However, in the second stanza, the concept of restrictions is brought up. The speaker talks about how he is unable to do this because of, "Time’s winged chariot hurrying near." He talks about how one day, his lovers staggering beauty will be gone as they both die. This leads into the third stanza which can be taken in two ways. Either the speaker is saying, "What's the point?", or the speaker is saying, "Why not enjoy it?" This is where Marvell's strong rhetorical power becomes evident. He is vague in the final stanza so that the reader can enterprit for themselves what is being said in the third stanza. This is an extremely smart move, especially on the subject of life. How you enterprit the ending basically depends on if you are an optimist, or a pessimist. Either way Marvell is appealing to you, which is extremely good rhetoric. In my opinion, the last sentence makes the poem, "Thus, though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run." This is basically saying, "Yeah, maybe we don't have very long, but I'll be damned if we don't make the most of it."
I LOVED your last sentence! It really helped to convey the crux of this poem! You seemed to have a great understanding of the poem and the topics it conveys. Great job!
DeleteYou did great summarizing what the poem means. I agree with Emma on the last sentence! Great job!
DeleteI really liked the distinction you placed between the two major themes of the poem. I, like the others, also enjoyed your last sentence. It was a nice explanation of both the final line of the poem and "To His Coy Mistress" as a whole.
DeleteThis poem focuses on love and the lengths to which it would extend. The author uses many different literary techniques to convey this to the reader. Often, people have a difficult time realizing just how much they are loved. This rhetor details the specifics of how deep and far-reaching his love for her is. I believe that the line, “Thus, though we cannot make our sun; Stand still, yet we will make him run,” is a line from this poem that really helps explain the overall meaning. To me, the sun emulates their love. It’s not everlasting or immortal, therefore that can’t make it stand still. However, they will care for it as well as they know how and basically dare it to die. This poem is quite beautiful, and it’s honesty and beauty makes it a poem for the ages.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you connect the sun to their love, I never thought of it that way. I agree with everything else you say because I realized the same meanings when I read the poem. Great job!
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