To Her Father with Some Verses by Anne Bradstreet
‘To Her Father with Some Verses’ by Anne Bradstreet expresses the poet’s admiration for her father and desire to pay him back for his support.
Why Flowers Change Color by Robert Herrick
‘Why Flowers Change Color’ by Robert Herrick is a short poem that speaks about virginity, virgins, and the reason that flowers change colors. The poem is often interpreted in different ways due to the few details Herrick provides in the four lines.
Advice to a Girl by Thomas Campion
Thomas Campion’s ‘Advice to a Girl’ is a piece of advice dedicated to 17th-century women regarding men’s nature and follies. It highlights some negative aspects in men that women should know before loving them.
There is a Garden in Her Face by Thomas Campion
‘There is a Garden in Her Face’ by Thomas Campion is a poem about a woman’s beauty. It also contains a warning to suitors that she won’t let anyone kiss her or come near her in any meaningful way.
Green Grow the Rushes, O
Read ‘Green Grow the Rushes, O’, with a complete analysis and summary of the song/poem.
The Constant Lover by Sir John Suckling
‘The Constant Lover’ by Sir John Suckling presents an interesting view of love. It’s told from the perspective of a man who has recently fallen for a new woman.
Farewell, Ungrateful Traitor! by John Dryden
‘Farewell, Ungrateful Traitor!’ by John Dryden swears off men and relationships. The speaker asserts that men are incapable of being truthful or loving as much as women.
Virtue by George Herbert
‘Virtue’ is one of George Herbert’s spiritual poems stressing the need of keeping a virtuous soul. Herbert creates a contrast between earthly things and a virtuous soul to make his point.
Before the Birth of One of Her Children by Anne Bradstreet
‘Before the Birth of One of Her Children’ by Anne Bradstreet is a moving poem about a woman’s opinion on death. Inspired by her pregnancy, the speaker pens this epistolary to her husband.
Sonnet 115 by William Shakespeare
‘Sonnet 115,’ also known as ‘Those lines that I before have writ do lie,’ is a poem about the ever-maturing nature of the speaker’s love for the Fair Youth.
Sonnet 114 by William Shakespeare
‘Sonnet 114,’ also known as ‘Or whether doth my mind, being crowned with you,’ is a poem about how one speaker interprets the world. Everything he sees and experiences is filtered through images of the person he loves.
Sonnet 112 by William Shakespeare
‘Sonnet 112,’ also known as ‘Your love and pity doth th’ impression fill,’ emphasizes the speaker’s obsession with the Fair Youth. He spends the lines reminding the Youth of how important his opinion is.
Song: Go and catch a falling star by John Donne
‘Song: Go and catch a falling star’ by John Donne tells of a speaker’s belief that there are no women in the world who are both beautiful and faithful.
Redemption by George Herbert
‘Redemption’ by George Herbert speaks on one man’s long journey to find God amongst the secular, and therefore the ability to start a new life.
To My Mistress Sitting by a River’s Side by Thomas Carew
‘To My Mistress Sitting by a River’s Side by Thomas Carew compares the relationship between two lovers to the actions of a stream, river, and eddy.
The Pulley by George Herbert
‘The Pulley’ by George Herbert speaks on one part of the Christian creation story in which God chose to imbue humanity with blessings.
I Am a Little World Made Cunningly by John Donne
‘I Am a Little World Made Cunningly’ by John Donne contains a speaker’s prayer to God that both the good and bad of his soul be purged with fire.
A Hymn to God the Father by John Donne
‘A Hymn to God the Father’ by John Donne is a well-loved poem about God and religion. It contains a speaker’s prayers that he be forgiven a series of unnamed sins.
Dialogue of Friendship Multiply’d by Katherine Philips
‘Dialogue of Friendship Multiply’d’ by Katherine Philips contains the dialogue between two women, one of whom wishes to begin a friendship with the other.
Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward by John Donne
‘Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward’ by John Donne is a poem about spiritual transformation. It also depicts the speaker’s fear of confronting God.
The World by Henry Vaughan
‘The World’ by Henry Vaughan speaks on the ways men and women risk their place in eternity by valuing earthly pleasures over God.
To His Mistress Going to Bed by John Donne
‘To His Mistress Going to Bed’ by John Donne depicts the pleas of a speaker desperate for his lover to undress and come to bed.
The Relic by John Donne
‘The Relic’ by John Donne describes the nature of miracles, and the spiritual love that exists between the speaker and his lover.
A Song: Ask me no more where Jove bestows by Thomas Carew
‘A Song: Ask me no more where Jove bestows’ by Thomas Carew describes how in winter beauty doesn’t die, rather, it moves from nature to the listener’s body.
To a Lady that Desired I Would Love Her by Thomas Carew
‘To a Lady that Desired I Would Love Her’ by Thomas Carew describes the emotional situation of a speaker who is unsure if his listener truly loves him.
Compare and Contrast ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ by John Keats and ‘Sonnet 116’ by William Shakespeare
‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ by John Keats and ‘Sonnet 116’ by William Shakespeare speak on love through two very different lenses.
To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship by Katherine Philips
‘To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship’ by Katherine Philips describes the relationship that existed between the poet and her friend Anne Owens.
Woman’s Constancy by John Donne
‘Woman’s Constancy’ by John Donne contains a speaker’s doubts that his lover of one night will remain true to him in the morning.