Pastoral poetry
“The Passionate Shepherd to His
Love” and “The Nymph’s Reply to
the Shepherd”
Elements of Pastoral
Poetry
Peaceful imagery
Idealistic
Identified in rural people and shepherds
Sometimes focused on romantic love, sometimes
not
Upper class image of shepherds
Did shepherds have time to compose poetry?
Were sheep really that sweet?
Christopher Marlowe
He was a scoundrel, a ladies man and a hothead
Accused of being a government spy
Knifed to death in a tavern brawl
Extremely talented and envied poet
Sir Walter Raleigh
Famed courtier, navigator, poet and historian
Favorite of Queen Elizabeth I
The Passionate
Shepherd to His Love
The best-known example of pastoral poetry
Celebrates beauty and pleasures of country life
Conventional poem: speaker is addressing someone
he loves
World of nature is idealized
The Nymph’s Reply to
the Shepherd
Skeptical, clear-eyed response
Turns the shepherd down
Which side do you agree
with?
Debate Rules
Divide yourselves evenly (or close enough)
Mr. P will call on those who raise hands and are
respectful
No talking unless you are the one called on
You must respond to previous statement
Stay on topic!