Question

Select the correct answer.

In Andrew Marvell's poem "To His Coy Mistress," why does the speaker use the line "Thou by the Indian Ganges' side"?

A.
to make his beloved feel exotic and unique

B.
to reveal the depth of his love for his beloved

C.
to convey that his beloved seems far away

D.
to demonstrate his knowledge to his beloved

Answer 1

The line 'Thou by the Indian Ganges' side' in 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell suggests the beloved seems far away, highlighting the separation that heightens the urgency of his plea.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding the Line in Andrew Marvell's Poem

In Andrew Marvell's poem 'To His Coy Mistress', the line 'Thou by the Indian Ganges' side' is used to convey that his beloved seems far away (Option C). By referring to a distant and exotic location such as the Indian Ganges, the speaker emphasizes the vastness of space and time that separates them, which heightens the sense of urgency in his plea for her to stop being coy and to seize the brief opportunity they have to be together. The allusion to the Ganges, a river that is historically rich and symbolically significant, serves as a proxy for speaking about time, distance, and the speaker's desire to compress both for the sake of immediate love and pleasure.