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GCSE: Andrew Marvell

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190 GCSE Andrew Marvell essays

Marked by Teachers essays 2

With close reference to the two poems which you have studied, show how the poets have approached the theme of romantic love.

4 star(s)

A well articulated essay demonstrating excellent knowledge and understanding of the poems. A clearly structured analysis is consistently employed (Point, Evidence, Analysis) and some interesting and relevant contextual references are…
- Essay length: 2495 words
- Submitted: 10/11/2004
- Marked by teacher: Lucy Snell 18/03/2012
Which of 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne and 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell do you believe to be the most successful poem?

There are some good attempts at analysis of the two poems here and overall, a good general understanding. There is also an attempt at consistent comparison. The essay could be…
- Essay length: 2291 words
- Submitted: 03/11/2004
- Marked by teacher: Lucy Snell 18/03/2012
Metaphysical Love Poems
- Essay length: 2193 words
- Submitted: 04/02/2009
Andrew Marvells To His Coy Mistress was written in the Seventeenth Century.
- Essay length: 497 words
- Submitted: 23/10/2007
English essay
- Essay length: 808 words
- Submitted: 21/10/2007
To his coy mistress by Andrew Marvell
- Essay length: 988 words
- Submitted: 05/10/2007
To His Coy Mistress
- Essay length: 841 words
- Submitted: 15/09/2007
A Dialogue between the Soul and Body by Andrew Marvell
- Essay length: 1160 words
- Submitted: 22/08/2007
To his coy mistress
- Essay length: 1965 words
- Submitted: 31/05/2007
To his Coy Mistress
- Essay length: 1241 words
- Submitted: 27/02/2007

Top tips for writing about Andrew Marvell's poetry.

1 Marvell was born in 1621 in Yorkshire, England. He studied at the University of Cambridge and whilst he was there begun to publish his first poetry, which was written in Latin and Greek. He died in London in 1678.
2 Marvell was a metaphysical poet (a group of English poets from the 17th century) and was interested in metaphysical concerns. This meant he thought about the world in a rational way rather than in relation to mystery or intuition.
3 Marvell’s poems, like other metaphysical poets, often had some of these characteristics:

Often very witty and enjoyed using original metaphors,
Often presented a subtle argument,
Often wrote about issues of the time, or satires,
T.S. Eliot said their work fused passion with reason.
4 Although the attitudes and values expressed in his poems may seem like Marvell’s ideas, it is important to recognise that the poet is not the narrator, even when the poem is written in first person.

Writing about Marvell's poetry

1 The perspective, tone and register of narrator is a good place to start analysis. Remember that these can differ within poems.
2 Titles, openings and endings can be a good way to analyse the poems.
3 Look for patterns and oppositions (or lack of) that emerge.
4 Consider effects of poetic techniques, for example use of imagery or phonological devices (to do with sounds). Marvell enjoyed using metaphor and hyperbole.
5 Consider the effects of structure (e.g. number of verses, rhythm, rhyme etc.) and form as well as language. For example, Marvell structures To His Coy Mistress as a logical argument, contributing to the persuasive message of the poem.

Things to remember when writing essays

1 All essays should be well planned with clear points. This will help to create a structured essay.
2 Introductions should clearly show they are answering the question Each paragraph should ideally begin with a topic sentence which addresses the question, evidence from the poem/s to support the point (with quotes embedded), and detailed analysis using technical terminology. This can be known as P.E.E (Point, Evidence, Explain).
3 If relevant, some contextual information about Marvell, metaphysical poetry and the 17th century might contribute to an analytical response.

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Conclusion analysis

Good conclusions usually refer back to the question or title and address it directly - for example by using key words from the title.
How well do you think these conclusions address the title or question? Answering these questions should help you find out.

Do they use key words from the title or question?

Do they answer the question directly?

Can you work out the question or title just by reading the conclusion?

Compare and Contrast 'To his Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell with 'To his Mistress going to bed' by John Donne.

"In conclusion I found both Donne's and Marvell's poetry quite amusing and in some ways comical, I say this for the reason that, you wouldn't find many men writing love letters and poems to the girl they may adore or even love nowadays, because over time or even five centuries, people change, peoples' habits change and so do the way of their love life. However, as a female, I still find a love letter or even a poem, is far more affectionate than a box of chocolates ever could be, and I also believe that behind every successful man is a woman, as Donne and Marvell have marked their places in history by writing about the mysterious mistress that they fell in love with, and we're reading about in the 21st century."

The two poems that I have chosen to compare are, 'To His Coy Mistress' and 'Our Love Now'.

"Even though these poems were written at very different times, they still have things in common. In both poems the man is trying to convince the woman of something, whether it be the make love with him or to carry on her relationship with him. In 'To His Coy Mistress' the man complements the woman and puts forward a well-constructed argument. In 'Our Love Now' the man compares different aspects of their relationship to different things. The main difference between the two poem is that I 'To His Coy Mistress' we do not find out the woman's reply to the argument but in 'Our Love Now' we find out that his argument is not successful and the woman ends her relationship with him. Alex Warham English"

Compare the theme of seduction in "To his coy mistress" and "The seduction"

"In conclusion it is clear that both are poems are about a man seducing a woman in the hope that she will sleep with him. I believe the biggest difference between the poems is to do with the date when they were written. Both time eras had completely different attitudes to sex, which is why the men go about a different way to seduce the women The poem that I find more persuasive and effective is "THCM" because the man actually loved the lady "I would love you ten years before the flood" and his intentions were slightly more pure it seems, compared to the man in "the seduction" who simply took advantage of the woman and didn't care for her one bit. I also think that it is very cleverly written and is interesting how each stanza represents a different time frame."

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GCSE: Andrew Marvell

190 GCSE Andrew Marvell essays

With close reference to the two poems which you have studied, show how the poets have approached the theme of romantic love.

Which of 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne and 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell do you believe to be the most successful poem?

Metaphysical Love Poems

Andrew Marvells To His Coy Mistress was written in the Seventeenth Century.

English essay

To his coy mistress by Andrew Marvell

To His Coy Mistress

A Dialogue between the Soul and Body by Andrew Marvell

To his coy mistress

To his Coy Mistress