The Passionate Shepherd to his Love
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Translation
If you come live with me and be my lover,
I’ll show you all the wonders of nature. We will sit on rocks and watch the farmers tend to their animals, where the songbirds sing by the streams. I’ll give you flowers of all types, and make lots of pretty clothes for you to wear. I’ll give you a gown out of the finest wool from my prettiest sheep, and give you the finest and best fair lined slippers for the cold, which have buckles of the purest gold. I’ll give you items that I can’t even afford, if this pleases you, come live with me and be my lover. All the towns boys will dance and sing for your delight if you wish it, but only if you come live with me and be my lover. Similar PoemsMy Longing
By: Lucas Zacherl Even though my eyes are red afire, And as tears run down my face. You are all I desire, And nothing shall ever take your place. |
Literary Analysis
- This poem is NOT a sonnet, unlike many of the poems we have studied.
- The poem is made up of 6-4 line quatrains.
- The rhyme scheme is AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKAA.
- The first two lines of the stanza rhyme and then the second two lines of the stanza rhyme as well.
- The only alteration to this pattern is the AA sequence that is repeated for the last two lines.
- The poem contains both end and approximate rhyme.
- The end rhyme is shown in lines ½, ¾, 5/6, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20, 21/22. 23/24.
- The approximate rhyme is shown in lines 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, and 13/14.
- The poem is very heavy in imagery. Throughout the piece, Marlowe appeals to our senses through his descriptions of the environment. For example, line 7/8 are prime examples of imagery. “By shallow rivers, to whose falls/ Melodious birds sing madrigals.”
- The poem is also full of alliteration. One example of the authors use of alliteration comes in like 21. The line reads, “The shepherd swains shall dance and sing”.
- There is also an example of enjambment in lines 13/14, causing us to have to read on to the next line to get all the information.
- The speaker of this poem is speaking directly to his love. He is trying to get his love to be with him forever. His tone is very romantic and also hopeful that their love will agree to be with them.
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