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- ANDREW MARVELL: Associate of John Donne. Son of a Church of England clergyman. Lived during the Interregnum. Disappeared for 6 years possibly touring abroad. Metaphysical poet.
- MARVELL AND POLITICS: Some of his poems display royalist attitudes. Some seen as a 'celebration of Cromwell'. Possibly pointed by the Jesuits.
- LATIN PHRASES: Tempus Fugit (Time flies). Memento mori (Remember death) Carpe diem (Seize the day).
- CARPE DIEM: Poem is a famous example of theme being used. Idea clashes with Puritanical ideals.
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- GEOGRAPHICAL ALLUSIONS: 'Thou by the Indian Ganges' + 'Should'st Rubies find' + 'Of Humber' Attempt of an exotic portrayal of love. Theme of exploring/discovering sexuality. Vastness of female beauty and physical attributes.
- RELIGIOUS ALLUSIONS: 'before the Flood' + 'Till the Conversion of the Jews' Apocalyptic imagery offers the woman a warning. Implied that if the couple don't take this opportunity to copulate, then there is a possibility that they never get a chance to again. Idea of converting to 'lost virginity' and connotations of sexual imagery.
- HISTORICAL ALLUSIONS: 'Times winged Charriot hurrying near' Alludes to the Romans and idea of using chariots in sport, connoting danger and risk as well as personifying time in the context of 'carpe diem'. Implies the authority of the narrator in this relationship.
- HYPERBOLIC LANGUAGE: 'Vaster then Empires' Exaggerates the attraction felt by the narrator (mainly physical). Ideas of exploration through sexuality linked to the 'vast' physical assets of the woman.
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- HEGELIAN DIALECTIC: Idea of the stanzas being structured as thesis, antithesis and synthesis. The first stanza opens with the thesis (the ideal state of the relationship), the second stanza is the antithesis (the real state which is not desired) and the third stanza represents the synthesis (what is necessary for both characters). Narrator sets the poem up as a persuasive piece.
- STANZA STRUCTURE: First stanza is the conditional perspective which is conscious of time. Second stanza speaks about how time is running out for the pair and the final stanza concludes the idea of carpe diem being the basis for this woman losing her virginity.
- IAMBIC TETRAMETER: Written to duplicate a 'sing-song' rhyme. Creates a comic feel which contrasts with the dark themes of time and death.
- DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE: Silent listener is addressed but her voice is not heard. Situation is that the reader is eavesdropping on an intimate conversation. Speaker remains anonymous- could be considered threatening or mysterious.
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- C. RUMENS [2008]: 'Marvell's great poem manages to be serious and light, epic and personal, as aware of the pleasures of the flesh as the transience of life'
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