Name: Abraham Yeh

Title of Presentation: How Marvell has used language to show his

concerns in the poem, “To His Coy Mistress” and how it makes it a

makes it a memorable one.

“To His Coy Mistress” is a love poem written by Andrew Marvell to his

mistress to accept his love proposal. Throughout the poem, he shows

his concern about how time is running out between the two of them by

the use of convincing and persuasive words.

I the first two line of the poem, “Had we but world enough and time,

This coyness, Lady were no crime” ,He says this to explain to the

mistress that if they did have time, he wouldn’t care about her

shyness and by the use of words like “had” and “enough” show clearly

that they do not have time. In the next two lines, “We should sit down

and think which way to walk, and pass our long love’s day” which is

related to the first two sentences explains that they would sit down

and think where to walk to and have a nice day if they had time. “Thou

by the Indians Ganges’ side Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide of

Humber would complain”. He tells her this to show his love to her to

mean that if they were far apart, he would complain. “I would love you

ten years before the flood: And you should, if you please, refuse till

the conversion of the Jews” is said by the persona probably to show

her how long he has loved her and that they will have a never ending

love. Also in this statement, “till the conversion of the Jews” which

might never happen, is said to show that he will love her forever. He

goes on to exaggerate that the love he has for her will slowly but

surely grow larger then an empire by saying, “My vegetable love should

grow vaster than empires, and more slowly. By the tone of the persona

in this statement, it shows a bit of confidence and boldness. In the

next line, “An hundred years should go to praise thine eyes, and on

thy forehead gaze. Two hundred to adore each breast: But thirty

thousand to the rest. An age at least to every part." Over here, he

uses erotic and passionate words to show to the mistress how much he

adores her body. There is a bit of lust and obsession. He also uses

the word “gaze” to show her that he would never be tired of looking at

her body and he also relates it to time.