Marlowe’s poem “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” is a classic example of pastoral poetry. With your understanding of pastoral themes, craft your own pastoral poem. Like Marlowe, incorporate traditional elements such as the rural landscape and the shepherd, but also introduce a unique feature that will make your poem stand out.

Investigate the lifestyle of a shepherd in sixteenth-century England and compare it to that of a contemporary shepherd. Which era would you prefer to live in, and what are your reasons?

Both Sir Walter Raleigh and John Donne wrote responses to Marlowe’s poem. Imagine you are a young woman in Elizabethan England; compose your own reply to Marlowe’s poem. What arguments can you provide to either accept or reject the shepherd’s proposal? Be sure to structure your response in verse.

The religious conflict between the Catholic Church and various Protestant factions created significant tension and occasional danger in Elizabethan England. Research this conflict and write a detailed essay explaining its nature and the impact it had on Elizabethan writers of the late sixteenth century. For example, the appeal of pastoral poetry was partly due to the sense of security that an idyllic countryside offered. You could further explore how religious conflict influenced the safety of the countryside. However, you are not restricted to this angle alone; your research might reveal other interesting topics to explore.