“To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

“To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick first appeared in 1648 as part of his collection Hesperides, a compilation of lyric poetry celebrated for its delicate themes and musicality. The poem reflects Herrick’s carpe diem philosophy, emphasizing the fleeting nature of beauty and life through the transient existence of daffodils. Its main ideas revolve around the impermanence of life and the shared mortality of humans and nature, as echoed in the lines, “We have short time to stay, as you, / We have as short a spring.” The poem’s enduring popularity as a textbook piece lies in its lyrical grace, universal themes of time and transience, and its meditative tone. Quoted phrases like “Like to the summer’s rain; / Or as the pearls of morning’s dew” encapsulate the ephemerality of existence, making it a poignant and accessible work for readers across generations.

Text: “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see 
You haste away so soon; 
As yet the early-rising sun 
Has not attain’d his noon. 
Stay, stay, 
Until the hasting day 
Has run 
But to the even-song; 
And, having pray’d together, we 
Will go with you along. 

We have short time to stay, as you, 
We have as short a spring; 
As quick a growth to meet decay, 
As you, or anything. 
We die 
As your hours do, and dry 
Away, 
Like to the summer’s rain; 
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew, 
Ne’er to be found again.

Annotations: “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

Line	Annotation
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see	The speaker addresses the daffodils directly, personifying them as beings whose fleeting existence evokes sorrow. This sets a melancholic tone.
You haste away so soon;	Highlights the brevity of the daffodils’ life, symbolizing the transience of beauty and existence.
As yet the early-rising sun	Suggests the daffodils die early in the day, metaphorically linking their short life to the incomplete journey of the sun.
Has not attain’d his noon.	Implies the daffodils perish before reaching their full potential, paralleling the human experience of life cut short.
Stay, stay,	A plea for the daffodils to linger longer, reflecting a human desire to hold on to fleeting moments of beauty and life.
Until the hasting day	Personification of the day as “hasting,” emphasizing the rapid passage of time.
Has run	Depicts the day as a journey or race, reinforcing the imagery of time slipping away quickly.
But to the even-song;	Refers to the evening prayer or song, symbolizing the end of the day and, metaphorically, the end of life.
And, having pray’d together, we	Suggests unity between humans and nature in acknowledging mortality and seeking spiritual solace.
Will go with you along.	Accepts the inevitable passage of life, offering a resigned companionship with the daffodils as they fade away.
We have short time to stay, as you,	Draws a direct comparison between human life and the ephemeral existence of daffodils.
We have as short a spring;	“Spring” symbolizes youth and vitality, which is as brief for humans as it is for the flowers.
As quick a growth to meet decay,	Acknowledges the rapid progression from growth to decline, emphasizing life’s transient nature.
As you, or anything.	Broadens the analogy to include all of nature, reinforcing the universality of impermanence.
We die	A stark statement of mortality, creating a sense of inevitability and finality.
As your hours do, and dry	Compares human life to the daffodils’ short lifespan, which dries up as the day progresses.
Away,	A single word that underscores the vanishing of life and beauty, leaving a lingering sense of loss.
Like to the summer’s rain;	Compares the brevity of life to fleeting summer rain, a transient natural phenomenon.
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew,	A vivid image of morning dew, which sparkles briefly before evaporating, symbolizing the delicate and temporary nature of life.
Ne’er to be found again.	Concludes with the irretrievable loss of life, underscoring the permanence of death and the fleeting nature of existence.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“Fair Daffodils, we weep”	The repetition of the “w” sound emphasizes the speaker’s sorrow and creates a musical quality.
Allusion	“Even-song”	Refers to the evening prayer, an allusion to religious practices, symbolizing the end of life or a day.
Apostrophe	“Fair Daffodils, we weep to see”	The speaker addresses the daffodils directly, personifying them as if they can hear and respond.
Assonance	“Stay, stay, / Until the hasting day”	Repetition of the “a” sound creates a rhythmic flow and reinforces the plea to delay the inevitable.
Caesura	“We die / As your hours do, and dry”	A pause in the middle of the line enhances the reflective and somber tone of the poem.
Consonance	“Like to the summer’s rain”	The repetition of the “r” and “s” sounds adds a soft, fleeting musical quality to the imagery.
End-stopping	“Ne’er to be found again.”	A line ending with punctuation, emphasizing the finality and permanence of death.
Enjambment	“We have as short a spring; / As quick a growth”	A thought flows over from one line to the next, mimicking the unstoppable flow of time.
Ephemeral Imagery	“Like to the summer’s rain”	Highlights the fleeting nature of life through a transient natural phenomenon.
Hyperbole	“Ne’er to be found again.”	Exaggerates the finality of death to emphasize the impermanence of life.
Imagery	“Or as the pearls of morning’s dew”	Vivid sensory description paints a picture of delicate, fleeting beauty.
Juxtaposition	“We have short time to stay, as you”	Contrasts human life with the daffodils’ life to draw parallels in transience.
Metaphor	“We have as short a spring”	Compares youth and vitality to the briefness of spring, underscoring life’s fleeting nature.
Personification	“Fair Daffodils, we weep to see / You haste away”	The daffodils are personified as beings capable of hastening and invoking emotion.
Refrain	“Stay, stay”	The repetition of this plea emphasizes the speaker’s desire to prolong life and beauty.
Religious Imagery	“Even-song”	Evokes religious connotations, blending the temporal with the spiritual.
Rhyme Scheme	“Stay, stay, / Until the hasting day / Has run / But to the even-song”	The poem uses a consistent rhyme scheme (ABAB), lending it a lyrical quality.
Symbolism	“Daffodils”	Symbolize the fleeting nature of life and beauty, serving as a metaphor for human mortality.
Synecdoche	“Your hours”	Represents the entire life span of the daffodils, focusing on their brief time on earth.
Tone	“Fair Daffodils, we weep to see”	The tone is melancholic and reflective, setting the mood for the meditation on mortality.

Themes: “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

• The Transience of Life: In “To the Daffodils,” Herrick meditates on the fleeting nature of existence, drawing parallels between the ephemeral life of daffodils and human mortality. The line, “We have short time to stay, as you, / We have as short a spring,” encapsulates this theme, likening the brevity of human life to the transient bloom of flowers. Herrick emphasizes that, just as the daffodils fade before the sun reaches its noon, human lives are similarly marked by impermanence, with youth and vitality quickly giving way to decay. The imagery of “pearls of morning’s dew” further underscores this ephemerality, suggesting a delicate, fleeting beauty that disappears almost as soon as it is noticed.
• Unity with Nature: The poem explores the shared destiny of humans and nature, portraying life and death as universal experiences that connect all living things. Herrick personifies the daffodils, addressing them as companions in the journey toward mortality: “And, having pray’d together, we / Will go with you along.” This invitation to walk alongside the daffodils as they fade creates a sense of solidarity between humans and the natural world. The imagery of the daffodils’ “hasting day” mirrors the rapid passage of human time, uniting both under the inevitable march toward death, and highlighting the interconnectedness of life.
• Religious and Spiritual Reflection: Religious undertones permeate the poem, with references to “even-song” and communal prayer suggesting a spiritual perspective on life’s brevity. The speaker’s plea for the daffodils to “stay, stay” reflects a longing not only to delay death but also to find meaning in the time that remains. The idea of praying together evokes a ritual of acceptance and preparation, merging the natural cycle of life with spiritual transcendence. This integration of mortality with faith offers a comforting lens through which to view the inevitability of death, transforming it into a moment of unity and grace.
• The Inevitability of Death: Herrick confronts the inevitability of death, portraying it as an unyielding force that governs both nature and humanity. The lines “We die / As your hours do, and dry / Away” accept death as a natural conclusion to life, much like the withering of flowers at day’s end. This theme is accentuated by the comparison to transient phenomena such as “the summer’s rain” and “pearls of morning’s dew,” emphasizing the futility of resisting time’s passage. However, the tone is not despairing but contemplative, urging readers to cherish life’s fleeting moments before they vanish forever.

Literary Theories and “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

Literary Theory	Application to “To the Daffodils”	References from the Poem
Formalism	Focuses on the structure, form, and use of literary devices in the poem, analyzing its rhyme scheme, meter, and imagery.	The consistent ABAB rhyme scheme, vivid imagery like “pearls of morning’s dew,” and rhythmic use of alliteration enhance its musical quality.
Romanticism	Emphasizes the connection between humans and nature, and the emotional response to the fleeting beauty of life.	“Fair Daffodils, we weep to see / You haste away so soon” reflects the Romantic ideal of nature as a mirror of human emotion and transience.
Existentialism	Explores the theme of mortality and the quest to find meaning in a finite life.	The line “We die / As your hours do, and dry / Away” accepts the inevitability of death, prompting reflection on human existence.
Ecocriticism	Examines the relationship between humans and the natural world, highlighting the shared temporality of all living things.	“We have short time to stay, as you” underscores humanity’s interconnectedness with nature and its cycles of life and decay.

Critical Questions about “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

• How does Herrick convey the theme of mortality in “To the Daffodils”?
• Herrick uses vivid imagery and direct comparisons to convey the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. The daffodils symbolize transience, as seen in the opening line, “Fair Daffodils, we weep to see / You haste away so soon,” where their brief existence mirrors the brevity of human life. The metaphor of the daffodils’ “short time to stay” reflects the impermanence of all living things. Similarly, the comparison to “the pearls of morning’s dew” underscores the fragility and temporality of life, as dew evaporates quickly under the rising sun. Through these examples, Herrick emphasizes the universal reality of mortality, urging readers to recognize the beauty in life’s fleeting moments.
• What role does nature play in the poem’s reflection on human existence?
• Nature serves as a mirror for human experiences in “To the Daffodils,” highlighting shared cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The daffodils’ brief life span becomes a metaphor for human mortality, as stated in “We have short time to stay, as you.” This connection emphasizes that humans, like nature, are bound to time’s unrelenting passage. Herrick’s use of natural imagery, such as “the summer’s rain” and “pearls of morning’s dew,” illustrates the inevitability of decline, suggesting that humans are not separate from but deeply connected to nature’s transient beauty. By linking human life to the rhythms of the natural world, Herrick fosters a contemplative appreciation of both.
• How does Herrick’s tone shape the reader’s perception of life and death?
• The tone of “To the Daffodils” is melancholic yet reflective, guiding readers to accept life’s impermanence with grace. In lines like “We die / As your hours do, and dry / Away,” the somber acknowledgment of death is balanced by a gentle acceptance of its inevitability. The plea, “Stay, stay,” reflects the human desire to hold on to beauty and moments of joy, yet Herrick ultimately embraces life’s transient nature with a meditative calm. This balanced tone transforms the poem from a lament into a celebration of life’s fleeting moments, encouraging readers to cherish the present while acknowledging the certainty of death.
• What is the significance of religious imagery in the poem?
• Religious imagery in “To the Daffodils” provides a spiritual framework for understanding mortality, suggesting that life’s brevity leads to unity and reflection. The reference to “even-song” invokes the idea of evening prayers, symbolizing the end of life’s journey as a sacred and communal act. Herrick’s line, “And, having pray’d together, we / Will go with you along,” portrays the act of dying as one of companionship and spiritual preparation. This blending of natural and religious imagery elevates the poem’s meditation on death, framing it not as an end but as a transition that invites reflection and unity with others in both life and the afterlife.

Literary Works Similar to “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

• “To Autumn” by John Keats
  Similar in its reflection on nature’s transience, this poem celebrates the beauty of the changing seasons while acknowledging the inevitability of decline.
• “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe
  Like “To the Daffodils,” it emphasizes the fleeting pleasures of life and nature, urging the reader to seize the moment.
• “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats
  This poem parallels Herrick’s focus on mortality by exploring the ephemeral nature of life and the desire for transcendence through nature.
• “The Garden” by Andrew Marvell
  Both poems find deep philosophical reflection in nature, contemplating life, death, and the harmony between humans and the natural world.
• “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
  This concise meditation on the transient beauty of nature mirrors the themes of impermanence and mortality found in Herrick’s work.

Representative Quotations of “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Fair Daffodils, we weep to see / You haste away so soon”	The speaker mourns the daffodils’ short-lived beauty, introducing the theme of mortality.	Romanticism: Focuses on the emotional connection between humans and nature, highlighting shared transience.
“As yet the early-rising sun / Has not attain’d his noon”	Compares the daffodils’ fleeting life to a day cut short, symbolizing unrealized potential.	Formalism: Uses metaphor and imagery to symbolize the brevity of life.
“Stay, stay, / Until the hasting day / Has run”	A plea for the daffodils to linger longer, reflecting human resistance to the inevitability of time.	Existentialism: Highlights the struggle to find meaning in a finite and transient existence.
“But to the even-song”	Refers to evening prayers, symbolizing the end of the day and the approach of death.	Religious Studies: Introduces a spiritual framework, viewing death as a moment of sacred reflection.
“We have short time to stay, as you”	Draws a direct comparison between human life and the fleeting existence of daffodils.	Ecocriticism: Explores the interconnectedness of human and natural life cycles.
“As quick a growth to meet decay, / As you, or anything”	Acknowledges the universal inevitability of decay and death.	Structuralism: Emphasizes shared patterns and parallels between humans and nature, reinforcing universal themes of life and death.
“We die / As your hours do, and dry / Away”	Explicitly states the inevitability of death for both humans and daffodils, creating a shared mortality.	Existentialism: Accepts death as a natural and unavoidable part of existence.
“Like to the summer’s rain”	Compares life’s transience to brief and fleeting summer rain, evoking a sense of impermanence.	Romanticism: Uses natural imagery to emphasize the ephemeral beauty of life and nature.
“Or as the pearls of morning’s dew”	Evokes the delicate, transient beauty of morning dew, symbolizing life’s fragility.	Symbolism: Represents the fragility and impermanence of existence through vivid imagery.
“Ne’er to be found again”	Concludes with a stark reminder of the finality of death, reinforcing the poem’s meditative tone.	Formalism: Ends with a poignant statement that emphasizes closure and finality, reinforcing the structural unity of the poem.

Suggested Readings: “To the Daffodils” by Robert Herrick

1. Hasan, Mariwan. “Robert Herrick’s Daffodils, Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Flower and Abdulla Goran’s Ivy Flower: A Comparative Study.” journal of Language Studies 6.4, 1 (2023): 239-252.
2. Morton, Edward Payson. “Robert Herrick.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 21, no. 3, 1906, pp. 96–96. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2917188. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
3. Kimmey, John L. “Robert Herrick’s Persona.” Studies in Philology, vol. 67, no. 2, 1970, pp. 221–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4173675. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
4. Landrum, David. “Robert Herrick and the Ambiguities of Gender.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language, vol. 49, no. 2, 2007, pp. 181–207. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40755482. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.