Imagery in Poetry

(Written by Apryl Ceja at South Univeristy)

A concrete imaged poem written by Christopher Marlowe; “The Passionate shepherd to his love” clearly, we can tell this man is writing to his love, this man is filled with strong, loving caring emotions taking place during the renaissance period he declares to his lover he wants her to come live with him, he explains to her he will give her all of the things a woman’s heart desires in this era, a beautiful remote location with trees, valleys, and mountains together they will enjoy a beautiful scenery of shepherds tending to their flocks by a river with little depth and waterfalls. He will give to her all of the most desired things of a woman’s heart, by romancing her and providing for her head to toe, with all of the finest materials available in this era, such as a crown of flowers, a petticoat and gown made from his own best hand-picked sheep, along with accessories with the most tasteful gems and flawless gold for her feet slippers to keep them warm, If all of these things influence her to live with him, his fellow shepherd’s country youth will, then dance and sing for her each morning.

The key images vital to understanding this poem are in summary; starting with the title understanding the words; passionate; strong, loving caring emotions, “And we will all the pleasures prove” (line 2) means he will show her everything she wants and prove to her this will give her a sense of happiness. Placing a scenic view with “that valleys, groves, hills, and fields…. Woods, or steepy mountain yields” (line 2 &3) gives us the idea that this is a remote country like location. How I found out which times this took place was from, “melodious birds will sing madrigals” (line 8) looking up in the dictionary the word, melodious; producing or having a pleasant sound, and the word madrigals; is a song from the renaissance period. Learning about how he will romance her, “and I will make thee bed of roses” (line 9) was pretty explanatory, he then goes into how he will make her a, “cap of flowers, and a kirtle” (line 11) assuming he will make her some type of petticoat because in line 13 he then explains he will make her a, “gown made out of the finest wool” (line 13) assuming that he wouldn’t make her two types of gowns. He will get the materials for her from his very own flock of sheep, “which from the pretty lambs we pull” (line 15) he then will make her, “fair lined slippers for the cold” (line 15) “with buckles of the purest gold” (line 16) explains the buckle for her slippers will be made out of the purest gold, the word purest; not mixed or altered uncontaminated, give me the feeling that these are the best anyone could ask for, he also makes her a belt, “with coral clasps and amber studs” (line 18) are another high quality material coral; being found in the ocean of vibrant red, and amber; a hard translucent resin made from trees in the territory period. “and if these pleasures may the move,” (line 19) pleasures; a feeling of happy and satisfaction, Thee; you, and move; influence or prompt, mean to me that after hearing all of the things she will receive, if it influences her to have a good feeling she shall then except him. “the shepherds’ swains shall dance and sing…for thy delight each May morning:” (lines 21 & 22) swains; is a country youth, thy; your, suggest to me that everyone in the village they may live will be very happy for them. Once I unlocked this poem with the dictionary it makes total since to me and provides a smooth beautiful romantic poem, that if someone wrote this to me I wouldn’t turn him down.

Apryl Ceja

References

X.J. Kennedy, G. Dianna (2013). The Passionate Shepherd to His Love (p. 749) The Literature Collection. [South University]. Upper saddle river, New Jersey: Pearson. Retrieved https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/9781269582674/cfi/6/86!/4/630/2/2/2/2@0:6.21

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