The following version of the poem was used to create this guide: Marvell, Andrew. "To His Coy Mistress". Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44679/the-definition-of-love.

Note that all parenthetical citations within the guide refer to the lines of the poem from which the quotations are taken.

Andrew Marvell was an Englishman, born in Yorkshire in 1621. His father, after whom he was named, was a clergyman. Marvell (the poet) was educated at Cambridge and likely spent some time traveling in continental Europe afterwards, though his exact whereabouts and occupation during this time are not known. As a student at Cambridge, he began writing poetry, as well as anonymous satires denouncing the monarchy, Catholicism, and censorship. His political views were complex and often controversial. He did identify himself as a Protestant. At the time of his death in 1678, he was suffering from severe poverty, most of his works unpublished. A woman named Mary Palmer, likely Marvell's secretary though claiming to be his wife, had his works published three years after his death.

This poem is what is called a carpe diem poem, meaning "seize the day." It is written from the perspective of a young man urging a young woman to succumb to his romantic and sexual advances, reminding her that life is short and encouraging her to pursue what she wants. "To His Coy Mistress" remains one of the most famous examples of carpe diem poetry in English literature.