Pastoral Poetry and Drama. Study Questions

  1. What are the origins of pastoral works?
  2. How do pastoral works contrast peasant life and city or court life?
  3. What are some topics covered in pastoral works?
  4. How is country life idealized in pastoral works?
  5. What is an elegy?
  6. Who are the main characters in pastoral works.
Christopher Marlow "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love".
  1. What does it mean to be "passionate"?
  2. Unity of harmony of man, nature and animals.
  3. The beloved transformed into a goddess of nature.
  4. How does the poet describe the happiness of the shepherd?
  5. In tanzas 1 and 2, how does the speaker say they will enjoy the beauty of nature?
  6. In stanzas 3-5what sort of things will the speaker make for his beloved to please and persuade his her?
Sir Walter Raleigh. "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd"
  1. What is the Nymph's reply to each offering of the shepherd?
Thomas Campion. "I Care Not for These Ladies"
  1. Describe why the author prefers a country girl over a city girl?