To His Coy Mistress

Listen to the poem together

In pairs: Read the poem again. EACH write down – ONE STATEMENT that you

think is true about the poem ONE QUESTION you would like answering.

Listen to the poem together

In pairs: Read the poem again. Write down – ONE STATEMENT that you think is true

about the poem ONE QUESTION you would like answering. Divide into A and B. B’s stand and move to a new partner, leaving A.

Listen to the poem together

In pairs: Read the poem again. EACH write down – ONE STATEMENT that you think

is true about the poem ONE QUESTION you would like answering. Divide into A and B. B’s stand and move to a new partner, leaving A. In the new pair, read A’s question. See if they can

answer it and write down the answer. If you think you have answered to each other’s

satisfaction, then see if you can come up with another question.

Listen to the poem together

In pairs: Read the poem again. EACH write down – ONE STATEMENT that you think is

true about the poem ONE QUESTION you would like answering. Divide into A and B. B’s stand and move to a new partner, leaving A. In the new pair, read A’s question. See if they can answer

it and write down the answer. If you think you have answered to each other’s

satisfaction, then see if you can come up with another question.

B’s now move to another partner

Return to your places

Write down any statements that we can now agree

Write down any unanswered questions… and see if we can answer them

Stanza 1 – ‘If’

Circle all the verbs which express a condition (I would if I could, I should be able to, I might if) which suggests that if the lover had time to wait, he would. Why do you think Marvell use this conditional tense?

Identify examples of hyperbole or exaggeration. What is the effect?

Stanza 2 – ‘But’

Identify which verb (‘action word’) Marvell repeats in this stanza to signal their possible future fate.

Identify the extended metaphor used to describe the terrifying future the persona predicts, if they delay.

(An ‘extended metaphor’ is the development of a metaphor over several lines or, in some instances, over the course of an entire piece.)

Stanza 3 – ‘Sooo...’

What words does the poet use to suggest that they must take action immediately?

Identify the pronouns (I, you, we, us, our) the poet uses in this stanza. Why does he use different pronouns in this stanza?

Themes and Ideas

What themes and ideas are central to this poem?

Remember that on the exam, you want to be able to discuss themes, ideas and issues through the ways that they’re communicated (i.e. language, structure and form)

Links with ‘To His Coy Mistress’

To which poems might we link this one?

“Hour”

Re-read the poem and think carefully about the following: presentation of time fairytale and myth use of contrast romantic symbols opulence literary heritage.

References - King Midas and Rumpelstiltskin

Some people believe that myths and fairytales are cautionary – they have a message or moral.

Looking at the information you have been given in “Hour,” what do you think the message of each story is?

Read the following statements that outline possible explanations for these references. These are only suggestions, if you can think of any more, write them in the box at the bottom of the list.

True love is a myth – something that is presented as real but is not actually obtainable.

Duffy may be suggesting that we need to consider the implications of our choices before we commit to them.

The references are included because the poem describes a ‘fairytale romance’.

The references to myth/fairytale give the poem an unpleasant tone as they suggest that not everything in the relationship is as it seems.

Referring to a well known myth and fairytale means the poem is more accessible to readers.

Revealing a “Hour” line by line

Open your folders to your A3 techniques sheet.

As we go through the poem, have a look at which poetic techniques are being used – what is their effect in this poem?

Stanza 1

Love’s time’s beggar, but even a single hour,

Stanza 1

Love’s time’s beggar, but even a single hour,bright as a dropped coin, makes love rich.

Stanza 1

Love’s time’s beggar, but even a single hour,bright as a dropped coin, makes love rich.We find an hour together, spend it not on

flowers

Stanza 1

Love’s time’s beggar, but even a single hour,bright as a dropped coin, makes love rich.We find an hour together, spend it not on

flowersor wine, but the whole of the summer sky and a

grass ditch.

Stanza 2

For thousands of seconds we kiss; your hair

Stanza 2

For thousands of seconds we kiss; your hairlike treasure on the ground; the Midas light

Stanza 2

For thousands of seconds we kiss; your hairlike treasure on the ground; the Midas lightturning your limbs to gold. Time slows, for

here

Stanza 2

For thousands of seconds we kiss; your hairlike treasure on the ground; the Midas lightturning your limbs to gold. Time slows, for

herewe are millionaires, backhanding the night

Stanza 3

so nothing dark will end our shining hour,

Stanza 3

so nothing dark will end our shining hour,no jewel hold a candle to the cuckoo spit

Stanza 3

so nothing dark will end our shining hour,no jewel hold a candle to the cuckoo spithung from the blade of grass at your ear,

Stanza 3

so nothing dark will end our shining hour,no jewel hold a candle to the cuckoo spithung from the blade of grass at your ear,no chandelier or spotlight see you better lit

Stanza 4

than here. Now. Time hates love, wants love poor,

Stanza 4

than here. Now. Time hates love, wants love poor,

but love spins gold, gold, gold from straw.

“Hour”

Love’s time’s beggar, but even a single hour,bright as a dropped coin, makes love rich.We find an hour together, spend it not on flowersor wine, but the whole of the summer sky and a grass ditch. For thousands of seconds we kiss; your hairlike treasure on the ground; the Midas lightturning your limbs to gold. Time slows, for herewe are millionaires, backhanding the night so nothing dark will end our shining hour,no jewel hold a candle to the cuckoo spithung from the blade of grass at your ear,no chandelier or spotlight see you better lit than here. Now. Time hates love, wants love poor,but love spins gold, gold, gold from straw.

Homework

Compare the ways that writers present love in “To His Coy Mistress” and “Hour.” Remember to link through themes/ideas Analyse language/structure/form Compare side-by-side Spend no more than 45 minutes on this.

Due Tues 24 April