The Passionate Shepherd to his Love
This study guide will help you analyze the poem “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” (1599) by Christopher Marlowe which can be found in the textbook Wider Contexts (p. 75). You can also find a summary of the poem, as well as ideas for interpreting it and putting it into perspective.
Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was an English poet, playwright, and translator. He was William Shakespeare’s contemporary, and it is believed he was an influence for Shakespeare’s works. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” is one of Marlowe’s most famous poems, and it was only published six years after his death.
Summary
In the poem “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe, the speaker tries to convince his lover to come and live with him. The speaker promises that if they will live together, they will be able to enjoy all the pleasures that can be found in nature. The speaker says they can sit and watch shepherds feed their animals and listen to birdsong. The speaker promises to make his lover beds of roses, and clothes from wool or straw, decorated with flowers, gold, ivy, coral, or amber. Moreover, young shepherd boys will sing and dance to entertain his lover every morning. The speaker tells his lover to come join him and live together if his proposition invitation sounds attractive.
Extract
Here, you can read an extract from our study guide: