Poem Analysis of

"To the Virgins, to Make Much of

Time"
By: Robert Herrick

Jemark Ortega
Contents:
 Background of the Work
 Author's Background
 Reading of the Poem
 Dramatic Situation
 Stanza Interpretation
 Mood of the Poem
 Denotation and Connotation
 Symbolism
 Figures of Speech
 Theme
 Implication of the Title
Background of the Work
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time’
was written by Robert Herrick in the 17
th century. The poem was number 208
in Hesperides. It is known as a “carpe di
em” poem or a “seize the day” poem. It
, along with others in its genre, asks a s
pecific reader or group of readers to “s
eize the day” and make the most of it. I
n this case, he’s speaking to women wh
o must “seize the day” before their bea
uty fades.
 Author's Background
• Robert Herrick was a 17th-century Eng
lish lyric poet and cleric. He is best kno
wn for Hesperides, a book of poems.
• The seventh child and fourth son of a L
ondon goldsmith, Nicholas Herrick, an
d Julian (or Juliana or Julia) Stone Herri
ck. He was little more than 14 months
old when his father apparently commi
tted suicide by “falling” from an upper
story window of his house in Cheapsid
e on November 9, 1592.
• Recognized as one of the most
accomplished nondramatic poets his
age.

• His Other works include :

 Upon Shark
 Corinna's Going a-Maying
 Of Love: A Sonnet
 Upon Julia's Clothes
 To Blossoms
 The Argument of His Book
 To Sylvia, to Wed
 Thanksgiving
 Delight in Disorder
READING OF THE
POEM
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.
Dramatic Situation
Who is the speaker of
the Poem?
 Author

 An older male
To whom is the
author speaking?

He is speaking to all young

unmarried women
What is the situation?
• a speaker encourages young
women to seize the day and
enjoy their youth

• more specifically, to have

plenty of sex and find a
husband while they're young.
Mood
 Playful

 Optimistic
Stanza
Interpretation
1. "Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying."

He first tells the virgins that they need to

“Gather” their “rose-buds” while they are
still able. This line is in reference to a Latin
phrase that asks that one utilize their
beauty before it is gone. One should
“gather” or pick up the beautiful items of
life they may not have access to once their
own beauty is gone.
2. "The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting."

The speaker turns to one of the natural

elements of the world that tell of the
passing of time, the sun. It is referred to
as the “glorious lamp of heaven.” The sun
is directly connected to God in that it
shines his light down upon the earth. Just
like God, there is no way to control it.
3. That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

The speaker goes on to tell the women

listening to his words that they are
“best” at the age which “is the first /
When youth and blood are warmer.” It
is in the early days of youth a woman is
most valuable. This is the period of
time she should take advantage of.
4. "Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry."

The last stanza concludes the speaker’s

previous arguments and tells the
women who might be listening to him
they should not play games with their
lives. They should not be “coy” in their
decisions and interactions with men but
“go marry” as soon as possible.
Denotation and Connotation

WORDS DENOTATION CONNOTATION

A flower with symbolizes

Rose stems that are
often armed with
sensuality and the
fulfillment of
sharp prickles. earthly pleasures.

The movement of
Sun The center of the
solar system
the sun in the sky
means thepassing
of time
Symbolism
The opening line, “Gather ye rose-
buds while ye may,” uses the symbol
of the rosebuds to command the
virgins to symbolically “seize” all the
romantic experience they can.
Figures of Speech
Personification
"And the same flower that smiles
today"

Alliteration
"The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun
The higher he’s a-getting"
Themes
 It emphasizes the classic, oppressive
opinion of women as being valuable
only when they’re beautiful.

 It tells women to do everything

they can to solidify their futures
while they’re young because once
their beauty fades, they won’t have
anything appealing to offer anyone
anymore.
Implication of the Title
To the Virgins, to Make Much of
Time," is that young women
should make the best of their
beauty and passion while they
are young because once they
are past their prime, no one is
going to want them.
THANK YOU!!!