Summary of the poem “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell.

    Andrew Marvell's poem "To His Coy Mistress"is a classic example of a carpe diem poem, a type of poem that encourages the reader to seize the day and live life to the fullest. The poem is a passionate plea from the speaker to his lover, urging her to seize the moment and enjoy the pleasures of love while they still can. It is a metaphysical poem in which the speaker tries to convince his resistant lover that they should have sexual intercourse. He describes that if they had all the time in the world, he would have no problem with their relationship moving this slowly. 

Summary of the poem “To His Coy Mistress”:

    The poem is divided into three sections, each of which presents a different argument for why the speaker's lover should give in to his advances. In the first section, the speaker uses a series of metaphors to describe the beauty and perfection of his lover. He compares her to a "vegetable" that grows slowly and steadily, and to a "Ganges" river that flows endlessly. However, he also notes that time is fleeting, and that they do not have forever to enjoy their love. He argues that they should seize the day and enjoy their love while they still can.

    In the second section of the poem, the speaker uses a series of hyperbolic statements to emphasize the importance of enjoying life while one can. He argues that if they had all the time in the world, they could spend centuries admiring each other's beauty. However, since time is limited, they must enjoy their love while they still can. He notes that even the greatest empires and civilizations eventually crumble and fade away, and that they too will eventually die. He argues that they should make the most of their time together and enjoy the pleasures of love while they still can.

    In the final section of the poem, the speaker makes a direct plea to his lover to give in to his advances. He argues that they should not waste any more time being coy and hesitant, but should instead seize the moment and enjoy the pleasures of love. He notes that they will eventually die, and that their love will be lost forever if they do not act now. He argues that they should not be afraid of the passage of time, but should instead embrace the present moment and enjoy their love while they still can.

    Overall, "To His Coy Mistress" is a passionate and persuasive plea from the speaker to his lover to seize the moment and enjoy the pleasures of love while they still can. The poem is a classic example of a carpe diem poem, which encourages the reader to live life to the fullest and make the most of every moment. The poem's use of metaphors, hyperbole, and direct address creates a sense of urgency and passion, emphasizing the importance of enjoying life while one can. Marvell's mastery of language and imagery is evident in "To His Coy Mistress" and the poem continues to be celebrated today as one of the greatest examples of carpe diem poetry.