Question

Identify and explain some of the basic premises of carpe diem poetry, then discuss how Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply” answers these premises. Your answer should be at least 150 words.

Answer 1

Carpe Diem common meaning is "seize the day", which means that you must enjoy the day and maximize every moment as if it were the last. The idea is to have a productive well-lived day.

The phrase is in Latin, and was termed by the Roman poet Horace in his novel "Odes".

The "Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd", written by Sr. Walter Raleigh, refers to a young female nymph happy vision of life. For her, a true relationship must be based on loyalty and commitment, not like the shepherd's materialistic vision.

The nymph is always looking for something permanent that makes her happy, to "seize the day", even though they would be like dreaming: to be forever young, permanent happiness and true love.

What she means is that she really dreams of a joyful life with the shepherd on her side, but she realizes that he cannot afford her that because of his different and materialistic vision of life.