compare the two poems; To his coy mistress and sonnet

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To his coy mistress and sonnet

To his coy mistress is a metaphysical poem, therefore emphasises carpe diem (seize the day) and uses time continually through the poem to create a light yet poignant atmosphere. However this is concealed by the lusty, insincere manner as the speaker will presumably say anything to argue his case. Yet the light-hearted tone of the poem suffers from the introduction of the concept of death in the 2nd stanza, as a result, the overall tone is more melancholy than it would have been otherwise.

"Two hundred to adore each breast"

As throughout the entire first section of the poem, here the speaker is using sleazy, sexually orientated language, focusing on the woman’s breasts as opposed to more amorous areas.

He is flattering his lover to the point of exaggeration, attempting to trick her into falling for his allure. The tone in this section is thus predominantly sexual, yet the reader is forced to feel displeased by the mans pressuring language to the timid woman.

There is drantic change in the mood of the poem in the second stanza,

"worms,” “dust,” and “ashes"

These words alter the tone introduced in first section of the poem through imagery associated with death and decomposition. They firmly establish the chilling reality of death, rather than the enjoyment and lust of what he craves. The tone here is sincere and melancholic, depleting the overall tone and creating sympathy for the woman.

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"fires,” “devour,” and “tear"

The tone in this final section, fueled by the increasing tempo and sexual imagery, is positively lusty. These words emphasize the tone, but they have clearly been affected by the midsection’s melancholy tone. It is less likely that the speaker is content in this final section; creating a downcast atmosphere that contradicts what the speaker is trying to persuade the woman to do, though fervent use of buoyant adjectives and influential metaphors create a contentment with the reader at the passionate twist to the poem.

Contradictory to the fervent tone in the opening stanza in to ...

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