The Elizabethan era took place in sixteenth century England. It was a time where poetry and poets flourished because Queen Elizabeth loved poetry. There were many poets around. One of the most famous was Shakespeare. One of Shakespeare's topics in his poems, was the rival poet. The rapid expansion of poetry and poets rising to fame caused for some competition to arise. Some poets would reply to others poet's poems to ridicule them or compete with them. One of these rivalries was between Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh. In one instance, Marlowe wrote a poem called "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love." Raleigh wrote a reply poem called The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd. .
In "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love," is about a shepherd who confesses his love and begs for his lover to live with him. The theme of this poem is that love conquers all. The shepherd tell his lover that he will do all these things for her, such as making her a bed of roses and making her a kirtle, which is a skirt. He also tells his lover that he will give her all these material things, such as fine slippers and a gown made of the finest wool. The shepherd bases most of his reasons for his lover to be with him upon material objects.
In "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd," the nymph, which is a shepherd's wife, explains what she fears will happen. The theme in this poem is that love is based on much more than material objects. She states that she does not believe the shepherd will always feel this way when she says, "time drives the flock from the field to fold." The nymph is also weary of the shepherds reliability when she says, "and truth in every shepherds tongue." The nymph realizes all material things fade, so she questions if they will both feel the same way after time has changed them.
These poems contain different themes and ideas about love. The shepherd believes he must win over the nymph by spoiling her with material objects and earthly pleasures.
