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Ever hear of the phrase "carpe diem"? It is a common Latin phrase meaning "seize the day" or in plain English, make the most of the time you have. This phrase is very well portrayed in Robert Herrick's most popular poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." Herrick was an established poet in the mid- 1900 's who lacked ambition but wrote remarkable poems. He was a graduate from Cambridge University, which took him seven years to complete, and a member of Ben Jonson's circle of young friends (Herrick 380). Herrick was later appointed a priest at the parish of Dean Prior, in Devonshire. He carried this title at Dean Prior until he died at the age of 83 (Herrick 380).
His education, unique living style, and his friends, all greatly influenced his extraordinary poems. In Herrick's poem he describes carpe diem by using vivid words and images and by connecting the meaning and theme to personal feelings. This brilliant poem uses an amazing use of images and personification. In the first stanza it discusses picking roses while there is time. The poem describes rosebuds smiling today and dying tomorrow.
The second stanza tells about a "glorious lamp of heaven", the sun, running a race from sunup to sundown (Herrick 385). In the third stanza it talks about when people are youthful they think they have all the time to accomplish their goals but "times still succeed the former", which simply means time Huffer 2 always wins and people are old before they know it (Herrick 385). The meaning and theme of carpe diem is clearly described in the four stanzas of the poem. before it's gone. The third stanza means simply that the times are best when people are young to realize their dreams and do something about it instead of wasting time. Have as much fun as you can while you are a kid and do as much as you can when you are a teenager and most importantly live everyday to your highest expectations.
The way I comprehended Herrick's ways of portraying the poem with images and what it means tells how it makes me feel. I really like this poem because it makes me want to get out of bed in the morning or turn off the television and do something productive like read a book, or go to the gym. It perfectly reveals the true meaning of carpe diem. The very first sentence alone tells me to get things done while I can. Now when I think of "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time", it will remind me of carpe diem, which will make me want to make every minute of my day account for something good whether it be reading a chapter in a book or cleaning the house. Everyone should read this classic poem that will encourage them to make the most of their time.
It will make everyone more productive and make them happy with Huffer 3 what they have accomplished. The way Herrick uses his wording, images, and personification easily shows anyone "to make much of time."
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Research essay sample on Make Much Of Time Virgins To Make
