In loco parentis: Cambridge, 1633–1641

This chapter follows the poet to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied for a BA degree (from 1633) and then proceeded to MA study (from 1639), the course of which was interrupted by the tragic death of his father in January 1641 and the subsequent loss of his place. Discussed in this chapter are Marvell’s dialogue and debate poems, including ‘A Dialogue between Thyrsis and Dorinda’, ‘Clorinda and Damon’, ‘A Dialogue, Between the Resolved Soul, and Created Pleasure’, and ‘A Dialogue between the Soul and Body’.