Be familiar with "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love" by Christopher Marlowe and 'The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" by Sir Walter Raleigh. In the first poem, the speaker, a shepherd, is telling of the beauty of his pastoral life and asking his love to join him. In the Nymph’s Reply, she rejects the shepherd.
1. Explain how these poems compare and contrast to the poem by Marlowe and the poem by Raleigh.
2. Find a quote from the poem “She” that is similar to a quote in “The Passionate Shepherd to his Love” - and explain how it is similar.
3. Find a quote from the poem “All I Need” that is similar to a quote in “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” - and explain how it is similar.
1. These poems compare and contrast in terms of their subject matter and themes. "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love" and "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" both revolve around the theme of love in a pastoral setting, but the two speakers have different perspectives. In Marlowe's poem, the shepherd portrays an idealized and idyllic life in the countryside, inviting his love to join him. On the other hand, Raleigh's nymph in "The Nymph's Reply" rejects the shepherd's offer and delivers a more realistic and skeptical response to his promises. While Marlowe's poem is full of romanticized descriptions of nature and an optimistic outlook, Raleigh's poem presents a more cynical and cautious viewpoint.
2. In "She," a quote similar to one in "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love" can be found:
Quote from "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love" by Marlowe: "And I will make thee beds of roses / And a thousand fragrant posies."
Similar quote from "She": "I'll make you a bed / Of roses red / A thousand posies."
The similarity lies in the imagery of beds made of flowers and posies. Both quotes emphasize the speaker's desire to create a beautiful and comfortable environment for their love interest.
3. In "All I Need," a quote similar to one in "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" can be found:
Quote from "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" by Raleigh: "The flowers do fade, and wanton fields / To wayward winter reckoning yields."
Similar quote from "All I Need": "Seasons change, and flowers fade away / The world turns, and love can't stay."
Both quotes convey the idea that nature's beauty is transient and temporary. They highlight the ephemeral nature of love and the inevitability of change.