Interpretation Poetry

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

Christopher Marlowe

In partial Fulfillment

for the requirements

of

Philippine Litreture

Submitted to: Ms. Angel Cabug

Instructor

Submitted by: Kevin M. Amparado

Student
I. Authors Background

 Christopher Marlowe's adult life is shrouded in mistery. There has been much speculation
that he was recruited whilst at Cambridge to act as Government spy. Certainly, he had
long unexplained absenses from university and had a life-style that exceeded the means
of a student from a fairly lowly background
 Born in Canterbury, England to a shoemakerJohn and his wife Katherine
 Attended the KingsKings School in Canterbury
 Received his Bachelor Degree of Arts in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1584
 1587 a Master of Arts Degree was conferred on Marlowe on schedule after initial hesitation on
the grounds of his religous leanings resulted in the intervention of Queen's Privy Council
 Marlowe was a dramatist, poet and a translator. He became Elizabethan tragedian of his day. His
work was great influence on that of his contemporary playwright William Shakespear
 18th May 1593 a warrant was issued for the arrest of Marlowe on the grounds of heresy after
his denunciation by a colleague, John Fry
 30th May 1593 Marlowe was stabbed to death by Ingram Frizer at a house in Deptford
II. Structure

 The form of the poem is six four-line stanzas written in iambic tetrameter rhythm
 The rhyme pattern is AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIJJ KKAA
 The tone of the poem is seductive
 Repitition, the insistent positive we will, I will and the repitition of the opening adjuration Come
live with me and be my love in line 20 and at the end of the poem line 24. Also, there is repeated
consonance at the end of lines 1 and 2 in lines 23 and 24
 Alliteration has been employed throughout the poem, like; live, love, we will, pleasures prove,
seeing the shepherd, pretty lambs we pull, Coral clasps
III. Interpretation

The poem opens with romantic-sounding lines. The poem convey that there is pleasures
of the outdoors, specially in countryside. The scenic picture of birds singing song to the
beat of waterfalls feels so calm and ease.