Use of Allusion in “To His Coy Mistress” Essay

Andrew Marvell used many allusions in his poem “To His Coy Mistress” thus making it interesting and colorful. An example of his use of this literary tool can be seen in these lines of the poem: I would Love you ten years before the Flood; And you should, if you please, refuse Till the conversion of the Jews. (7-10) Marvell uses Biblical concepts to show how much the narrator loves his mistress. In the Bible, the Flood occurs close to the time of Creation, and the Jews would convert at the end of the world.

By these lines, the narrator is seen to be able to love his mistress as long as time endures. In describing a very large distance, the author uses this allusion: “Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side / Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide / Of Humber would complain” (5-7). This allusion to Ganges, in India, and Humber (England) means that it seemed that the narrator and his mistress are indeed separated by a very great distance.

Works Cited

Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress. ” Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. 2 May 2010. < http://www. luminarium. org/sevenlit/marvell/coy. htm>