To the Virgins, To the Virgins, To Make Much of To Make Much of

TimeTimeBy Robert HerrickBy Robert Herrick

Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society

Robert Herrick: An Robert Herrick: An English PoetEnglish Poet

Birth:Birth: 1591 in London, England 1591 in London, England

Herrick was an apprentice to a Herrick was an apprentice to a goldsmith/jeweler to the kinggoldsmith/jeweler to the king

Started writing after losing his Started writing after losing his position in the church during the position in the church during the civil warcivil war

His poetry matures from his His poetry matures from his earliest works to his latest, from earliest works to his latest, from ‘lovemaking’ and ‘the female ‘lovemaking’ and ‘the female body’, to more spiritual topicsbody’, to more spiritual topics

Strongly influenced by Ben Jonson Strongly influenced by Ben Jonson and also the Elizabethan ageand also the Elizabethan age

Few people enjoyed his poems at Few people enjoyed his poems at the time he wrotethe time he wrote

To the Virgins, to Make Much of To the Virgins, to Make Much of TimeTime

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying. Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting. And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first, That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. and worst Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time, Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may, go marry; And while ye may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry.You may forever tarry.

Analysis of the PoemAnalysis of the Poem

One theme of the poem is that time goes One theme of the poem is that time goes faster than one expects, so in other words faster than one expects, so in other words do what you can while you have time to do what you can while you have time to (i.e. live for tomorrow) -1(i.e. live for tomorrow) -1stst and 2 and 2ndnd Stanza Stanza

Its better to be young than old so enjoy it Its better to be young than old so enjoy it while you can -3while you can -3rdrd Stanza Stanza

You’ll never get your youth back so live it You’ll never get your youth back so live it to you upmost -4to you upmost -4thth Stanza Stanza

QuestionsQuestions

What do you think is the overall theme What do you think is the overall theme of this poem?of this poem?

What type of feelings do you think the What type of feelings do you think the author is trying to convey?author is trying to convey?

Did the poet make you feel convinced Did the poet make you feel convinced that being young is far better than old?that being young is far better than old?

SymbolSymbol

Something that on the surface is its literal Something that on the surface is its literal self but which also has another meaning or self but which also has another meaning or even several meanings even several meanings

Examples:Examples:– ““Gather ye rosebuds while ye may”Gather ye rosebuds while ye may”

Meaning to live your life while you can. Rosebuds are the symbol Meaning to live your life while you can. Rosebuds are the symbol because they something at only last so long, as does ones life. because they something at only last so long, as does ones life.

– ““The sooner will his race be run”The sooner will his race be run” Life is being compared to a race because in life one tries to do as Life is being compared to a race because in life one tries to do as

much as one can before it’s over.much as one can before it’s over.

Carpe DiemCarpe Diem

The definition of it is recognizing the The definition of it is recognizing the brevity of life and the need to live for and brevity of life and the need to live for and in the moment ( i.e. living in the moment)in the moment ( i.e. living in the moment)

In the poem it is used as the central In the poem it is used as the central messege in that people should live today messege in that people should live today and only worry about tommorow when it and only worry about tommorow when it comescomes

Works CitedWorks Cited "Robert Herrick." "Robert Herrick." LitFinder Contemporary CollectionLitFinder Contemporary Collection. .

Detroit: Gale, 2007. Detroit: Gale, 2007. LitFinderLitFinder. Gale. NORTH . Gale. NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 12 May 2009 ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 12 May 2009 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=LITF&u=pl2552>. p=LITF&u=pl2552>.

Explanation of: 'To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time' Explanation of: 'To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time' by Robert Herrick." by Robert Herrick." LitFinder Contemporary CollectionLitFinder Contemporary Collection. . Detroit: Gale, 2007. Detroit: Gale, 2007. LitFinderLitFinder. Gale. NORTH . Gale. NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 12 May 2009 ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 12 May 2009 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=LITF&u=pl2552>. p=LITF&u=pl2552>.