College of Education

ENG118- Survey of English and American Literature

1st Semester, AY 2022-2023
Emmanuel D. Dayalo, EdD, Course Facilitator

Activity 2

Name: MARCHELLE T. CABE Course/Year/Section: BSED ENGLISH 3B

1. What is a "pastoral tradition" as described by Christopher Marlowe in his poem "The Passionate
Shepherd to His Love"?

“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” is a pastoral poem. Reflecting the genre, most of
the materials mentioned are plants - roses, flowers, myrtle, straw ivy, wool. All are promised as
materials to make garments for the person addressed by the speaker.

2. How the background of Christopher Marlowe as an author affect the poem "The Passionate
Shepherd to His Love"?

''The Passionate Shepherd to His Love'' is a pastoral poem written by Christopher

Marlowe. A pastoral poem is one in which nature and the pastures are idealized. He promises
his love a life of beauty and pleasure if she agrees to spend her life with him.

3. Discuss the comprehensively the elements of the pastoral poem:

A. Form - With a classic rhyme scheme of aabb, “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” is
written in iambic tetrameter, which is four feet (tetra) of unstressed or stressed syllables
(iambic), with seven stanzas each composed of two rhyming couplets.
B. Sound - Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound
of /p/ in “And we will all the pleasures prove” and the sound of /sh/ and /s/ in “The
Shepherds' Swains shall dance and sing.”
C. Rhyme - With a classic rhyme scheme of aabb, “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” is
written in iambic tetrameter, which is four feet (tetra) of unstressed or stressed syllables
(iambic), with seven stanzas each composed of two rhyming couplets.
D. Imagery - Marlowe chooses nature's idealized form for "The Passionate Shepherd to His
Love" because nature is meant to be seductive. The speaker is hoping the beauty of nature
will convince the beloved to move to the countryside, which is why Marlowe sneaks all of
the natural imagery into the promises or arguments of the poem.
E. Figurative Language - The diction is figurative, as the poet uses several images and
metaphors. Furthermore, feminine rhyme is used to create special effects such as “There will
I make thee beds of roses.” There is a rhyming word at the end of the line which contains
two syllables, while the final syllable is unstressed.
F. Speaker - The speaker in "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is a shepherd, who pledges
to do the impossible if only the female object of his desires will accept his pleas. The poem
is static in time, with no history or clearly defined future. Only the present matters.
G. Theme - Major Themes in “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”: Beauty, hope, and
nature are the major themes in the poem. The poet expresses his true love for his significant
other. The love, which he describes, offers merriment, joys, and excitement.
H. Symbol - Coral symbolizes life and blood force energy. It is a talisman against bleeding, evil
spirits, and hurricanes. Also, it is said to cure madness and give wisdom.

Accredited: Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP)
Member: Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC)
Agricultural Colleges Association of the Philippines (ACAP)
 4. Identify your most favorite lines in the poem. Interpret the lines you have chosen through
drawing/painting them in a long bond paper. Make a short narration/explanation then of what you
painted/drew through a short video/link which will be sent in the GDrive.
(uploaded in the google drive)

Accredited: Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP)
Member: Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC)
Agricultural Colleges Association of the Philippines (ACAP)