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SUGGESTED RESPONSES 170 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations
TO THE QUESTIONS
1. The speaker is a man who pines after the CHARACTER
subject of the poem, a woman who is
presumably interested in the man but is slow 1. Who is the speaker? What is his relationship to the subject? How is that
to respond to his romantic advances. Their relationship revealed in the poem?
relationship is revealed in the opening two 2. How does the speaker show his perspective and his bias toward the subject in
lines when the speaker refers to “we” (meaning the first stanza?
himself and the lady, who is named in the
second line). The text further develops the true STRUCTURE
nature of their passionate desires within the
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
relationship most fully in the final stanza. 3. How does the speaker’s perspective shift throughout the poem? Where are the
shifts? How do they contribute to your interpretation of the poem?
2. The speaker admits that he would fulfill his
duty of patiently and politely spending copious 4. The poem presents a sequence of events. How does the poem begin? What
happens in the middle of the poem? How does the poem conclude?
amounts of time slowly courting the woman (and
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
that she deserves the time and attention of an 5. What is the relationship between the three parts, and how does this relationship
ideal courtship). However, the speaker’s bias is contribute to an interpretation of the poem?
first revealed in lines 11–12, where the speaker
reveals that he is in love with the subject. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Word Choice, Imagery, and Symbols
3. The most notable shifts occur at the two stanza 6. How do the pronouns in the poem function as a referent that reveals a
breaks. In the first stanza, the speaker argues relationship between the speaker and the subject of the poem?
that if they had all the time in the world, they 7. How do specific words and phrases contribute to the figurative meaning of the
could afford a very slow courtship; the second poem? Give an example and explain.
stanza acknowledges that they don’t have all
the time in the world, and death is imminent. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Comparisons
The final stanza urges the subject therefore to
reciprocate feelings for the speaker while they 8. What is being compared in the first lines of the poem? How does this
are still young and vibrant. Each stanza builds comparison change throughout the poem?
as a logical and emotional appeal to the woman 9. The speaker uses many similes and metaphors in the poem. Choose two and
to change her perspective/stance. explain how they contribute to the tensions within the poem.
4. The first stanza establishes the characters
and the conflict; the second stanza illustrates IDEAS IN LITERATURE: Opportunity and Loss
an unwanted alternative given the constraints 10. The Latin phrase carpe diem means “seize the day,” and “To His Coy Mistress” is
of mortality; finally, the third stanza brings to an example of a carpe diem poem: a plea to make the most of every opportunity
life the dynamism and passion of giving in to while there is still time. This was a common poetic theme during the Renaissance
physical pleasures. period. What does the idea of carpe diem suggest about opportunity and loss?
5. By describing two unlikely and unwanted How does it balance the two?
hypothetical situations in the first two stanzas,
the final stanza in comparison seems to be the PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
most realistic and satisfying option (a potential
example of the false dilemma fallacy or fallacy 11. Explain how the poetic elements present a complex perspective on the subject
of time.
of bifurcation).
6. The speaker’s use of the first-person plural
pronoun “we” as the second word in the poem
(and then repeated throughout the next four lines
and once again in the final stanza) establishes
the speaker and the woman as a couple or in a
relationship. A notable departure is the second
stanza, which describes the implications of being
apart from each other indefinitely until death; in
this stanza, the speaker almost exclusively uses
singular pronouns “I” “thou/you.” 03_williamlit1e_46174_ch02_116_207.indd 170 22/09/22 9:47 AM
7. One example includes the final couplet of the have all the time in the world. The final stanza to represent their corporeal bodies, which
poem, which may be interpreted as though explores why and how they should act in eventually decompose to dust or are burned
the couple cannot stop the passing of time response. to ashes.
(making the sun stand still), they do have the 9. In line 11, the speaker describes his love 10. Responses may vary. Culturally, the
power to stay up all night enjoying themselves through the metaphor of a vegetable (or Renaissance marked a shift from medieval
and each other (chasing the sun or making the plant) growing in nature and becoming more Christian values to humanistic, secular, and
sun “run”). The speaker hearkens back to the prolific as time goes on: the comparison likens individualistic values (such as giving in to
second stanza (lamenting the passing of time the speaker’s love to an inevitable, natural what an individual desires emotionally and
and eventual physical decay) but contrasts phenomenon of life and growth. In line 22, physically to experience pleasure and enjoy
it with a reclamation of power and joy in the the speaker likens time to a “wingèd chariot themself).
moment. hurrying near,” which alludes to the idea that 11. Marvell presents time as both a problem and
8. The speaker compares the courtship he humanity is being pursued by the end of its own solution. While the passing of time
eventually leads to death and decay, the
would practice if he and the woman had all their days or racing against the clock (hence present moment is ripe for the taking if we
the time in the world to pursue each other. why they should make the most of every only act upon it while we can. Youth is a gift
The comparison shifts in the second stanza, opportunity). In line 29, the speaker compares lent by time, though it will eventually fade.
which recognizes that the two individuals don’t the subject’s “quaint honor” and his own “lust”

170 Unit 2 Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

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