To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time Please explain some of the literary devices in "To the Virgina, Make Much of Time." Herrick, an Anglican minister, had to be careful about how he frames the *carpe diem *argument. This is hinted at by the imagery employed in the first stanza: Gathering flowers can be seen as a metaphor for sex or wooing here, for plucking the flower and enjoying it while it’s still in the bloom of youth. What is the theme of the poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," by Robert Herrick? In this poem, the sun becomes a metaphor for time. These are created without the use of “like” or “as.” It says what it wants to say with extraordinary technical proficiency, yet without sacrificing the simplicity of its central message. .the sun/ The higher he's a getting,/The sooner will his race be won. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. "Marry," likewise, seems to mean "merry" or happy, but also sounds like and is spelled as "marry," meaning to wed. One way to seize the day is to marry while you can, in other words, while still young and desirable. . Thank you for the pleasant reminder! This is, technically speaking, highly efficient and tightly constructed verse – and this is important because the poet wants to convince us of the certainty of what he says. Find full texts with expert analysis in our extensive library. Learn more. Old Time is still a flying..." Note how ‘may’ becomes ‘will’. In "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," what is meant by the line, "And this same flower that smiles to-day / to-morrow will be dying". Herrick makes use of several literary devices in ‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.’ These include but are not limited to personification, metaphor, and alliteration. ‘Gather ye rosebuds while ye may’: Herrick’s classic carpe diem poem. four-line verse or stanza) is reinforced by the rhyme, both at the end of the lines (may/today, flying/dying) and within the lines (while/smiles, still/will). Browse Library, Teacher Memberships This poem is considered one of the "Carpe Diem" poems. There's also a suggestion of a pun in these words: "may" means "can" or "be able to," but it also is the name of a month associated with springtime, the blossoming of plants, and youth. The internal rhymes are delicately balanced, so that while and smiles come at the same point in the first and third lines respectively (the sixth syllable in the line) and still and will come at the same point in the second and fourth lines (the fourth syllable in each case). A Short Analysis of Robert Herrick’s ‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time’. The tautness of the quatrain (i.e. He is the author of, among others, The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers’ Journey Through Curiosities of History and The Great War, The Waste Land and the Modernist Long Poem. I wonder how many still read these poems? In Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," the metaphor of the sun being likened to a lamp also serves to further the theme of carpe diem which is the main idea of this poem. Interesting Literature is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk. Don’t tarry or waste time: you get just one life, so grasp the nettle and make the most of it. I would add something about how modernity reshapes the message. However, carpo in Latin can also refer to picking or plucking flowers or fruits, and this association goes well with the imagery he uses when he admonishes virgins to "gather ye rosebuds while ye may." Start studying Literary Terms for Poetry Quiz #2: "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick, 15 terms. ‘Gather ye rosebuds while ye may’ has become synonymous with the Latin sentiment expressed by Horace: carpe diem, ‘seize the day’. Carpe diem is a more serious prospect given the dangers, when death is visible all around. Herrick became a country pastor in 1629, but when upon the advent of the English Civil War he remained loyal to his king, he was ousted from his post by the Puritans, who closed the theaters and tavernsand eventually executed the king. Are you a teacher? This poli… This lends the lines a purposeful and decisive feel: make no mistake, the poet says, even your youth will fade, the flower will wither, and – eventually – die. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A metaphor is a comparison that does not use the words "like" or "as." They should enjoy life today because they never know what will happen: they may die, and if they don't, they will become old and undesirable. Personally I think Marvell said it better. School Memberships, © 2020 OwlEyes.org, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The poem’s meaning or message is relatively straightforward: as mentioned above, the poem is an example of ‘carpe diem literature’, enjoining the addressee to ‘seize the day’ and make the most of life. As mentioned above, the theme of this poem is "Carpe diem," or "seize the day." For having lost but once your prime, In this poem, we read: "May" and "marry" are alliterative, which draws attention to them. And while ye may, go marry; It strongly advises young women ("virgins") to enjoy life now. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. They could be blighted at first blush by poor health or poor hygiene, and disease, or whisked away entirely by plague, or by childbirth. The opening lines of one of the most well-known* carpe diem*, or "seize the day," poems in the 17th century in which the speakers tells his lover that, because time … ‘Gather ye rosebuds while ye may’: Herrick’s classic carpe diem poem. Herrick again uses personification when he implies that Time will always follow and bring the worst with it. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. The opening lines of one of the most well-known* carpe diem*, or "seize the day," poems in the 17th century in which the speakers tells his lover that, because time is short, they need to love now rather than later. Pingback: A Short Analysis of #RobertHerrick’s ‘To the #Virgins, to Make Much of Time’ @thewritealice – thewritealice MLS – Let Us Write You The World In Our Eyes. This provides another clue as to what he is driving at: like Andrew Marvell’s seduction lyric ‘To His Coy Mistress’, Herrick is advising the virgins to ‘make much of time’ by enjoying themselves before their youth and beauty fade. Log in here. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. But I am reminded of Charlotte Bronte’s father who wanted her to wait before she married, but she didn’t and died, shortly after marrying, due to complications from pregnancy. Herrick lived at a time when lives were like roses. But being spent, the worse, and worst like Andrew Marvell’s seduction lyric ‘To His Coy Mistress’, The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers’ Journey Through Curiosities of History, The Great War, The Waste Land and the Modernist Long Poem.