WHAT IS TIME?

Read “Time” excerpt on pages 236-237.

How is time viewed in our culture?

Time…

How important is it? What are our goals for time? How do we view it? By what age would you expect to be married? What is the push for time when having kids? How is time viewed in light of “carpe diem”?

Read “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” (page 239)

4 What does this poem say about the passage of time?

8 What event is coming to an end? 9 What age is best? Why? 12 What does he say about old age? 13 What is coyness? 16 What will happen if you are beyond

your prime?

Read “To His Coy Mistress” (241)

2 What does it mean to be coy? Why is it bad? 12 What would happen to his love if there

was enough time? 16 How long would he look at her beauty? 22 What does the speaker hear at his

back? 25 Why won’t her beauty be found? 30 Where will they be? 32 Who embraces in the tomb? Why not? 37 What does he want them to do while

they are still young? 46 What is the meaning of the last line?

Poetry Questions on page 242

Discuss questions 1-8.

Then, on your own, re-write one of the two poems in your own words. Make sure that your poem is about the same length and a similar message as one of these.

How would you modernize this message? How can these poems still be applicable to us today?