Larkin "The Building".
Larkin put "The Building" in the middle of his collection for a reason, it is a pillar that supports the rest of the collection with its long lines and many verses, and because of this, is maybe a bit more clearer than some of his other poems in the ideas and views that are expressed through it. Of course, being a Larkin a poem, there is the obligatory underlayer whom so many people miss, but in "The Building" it is easier to discern and comprehend. The title of the poem, "The Building" already hints at the main theme of the poem. The word "building" is a very vague term and in it's vagueness one can make out the fright of the author for this building, he cannot specify that it is a hospital as if not saying the word will make it go away. At the same time in this poem, Larkin makes out the hospital as the real world, everything around it is fake so that the word "building" is put in contrast to his view of what it really is. The poem starts in this indistinct manner and moves onto a much more definite reality: death. The first thing we discover about the building is the way it dominates the author's view, of all buildings he can see it is the tallest, it "shows up for miles". Although he doesn't want to know what it is, it dominates his view and his destiny - all men and women end up in the hospital before they die, and there is that sense again, of Larkin's fear of death.
Poetry - A Study of Reading Habits.
Poetry - A Study of Reading Habits I have recently finished reading a poem called "A Study of Reading Habits" written by Philip Larkin. When I first heard the title I had expectations that it would be a mundane insight into different people's reading habits, written in a formal and artificial manner. I also expected that it was written by someone who was very interested in books, and published in either a newspaper or teaching journal. However, when I actually read the poem I was surprised because the language used is in fact informal and quite rude. The poet uses scatological words such as "crap" where I would have expected more intellectual, vivid expressions. Furthermore, the content of the poem is not about a variety of different people's reading habits but instead just focused on one particular person's. As I studied the poem in more detail, I began to notice the techniques that were particularly effective and realised that beneath everything there was actually an interesting and thought-provoking theme. So in this essay I will highlight the points that were brought to my attention and explain the true meanings of the poem. At a general level, I noticed how well structured the poem was. It was divided equally into three verses which were arranged chronologically. Each verse describes the reading habits of a person at different ages. The first verse indicates late
From your study of Larkin to date, choose and comment on up to 4 poems where you have found this distinctive style at work.
"Larkin's style is distinctive: ironic, detached and observant, with a characteristic eye for the telling social detail and turn-of-phrase. It is a style- understated and hesitant- which many have seen as perfectly suited to the world of post-War Britain." From your study of Larkin to date, choose and comment on up to 4 poems where you have found this distinctive style at work. Larkin's style of writing, like most poets, was heavily influenced by the environment and society that surrounded him. It has been suggested by many that Larkin is a bleak, though suitable, social commentator for this era, as Eric Homberger suggests, he is "the saddest heart in the post-war supermarket." This role owes a large amount to his technique and approach to poetry. His sceptical, perceptive and removed outlook is reflected into poems such as 'Mr. Bleaney', 'MCMXIV' and 'Essential Beauty', brilliantly capturing the ironically familiar scenes of post-War Britain. 'Days', however, perhaps provides an exception to Larkin's unique observational style, revealing a more personal, philosophical approach. 'Mr. Bleaney' is a good illustration of Larkin's distinctive style. The poem begins with a description of the character's room and his situation, such as, 'Flowered curtains, thin and frayed, Fall to within five inches of the sill'. This extract highlights the observational aspect of Larkin's
Compare the ways in which larkin and abse write about love in their poems
Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about love in their poems. Larkin's poetry often relates to the social and cultural views upon love and marriage in his time, love is an unusual theme in Larkin's poetry as his poems normally result to a recurring theme of death. 'An Arundel Tomb' expresses Larkin's views on love; it mirrors the ambiguity and paradox of love and life. However Abse on the other hand delivers a different approach, he for see's love as a special and unique that lies between him and his family. The theme of love is presented in many of Larkin's poems "An Arundel Tomb" is a key poem portraying the theme of love. The observer adopts the idea of the Latin names around the base as something surviving throughout time .Does he really mean the Latin language? Or is giving the reader and open-ended interpretation meaning love will survive. The observer uses an oxymoron "stationary voyage" to emphasize something moving but staying still, this could be interpreted as time passing but their love for one another is neverforgotten. "Such plainness of the pre-baroque Hardly involves the eye, until it meets his left-hand gauntlet, still clasped empty in the other; and one sees, with a sharp tender shock,
Larkin’s poetry often deals with the dissatisfaction of modern living and the reality of life today. With reference to at least two poems show how true this is.
Larkin's poetry often deals with the dissatisfaction of modern living and the reality of life today. With reference to at least two poems show how true this is. To answer this I will be looking at poems taken from Philip Larkin's collection 'The Whitsun Weddings.' The two poems I have chosen to focus on in more depth are 'MCMXIV' and 'A Study of Reading Habits' 'MCMXIV' has often been read as a nostalgic poem as it reflects the speakers desire to return to some earlier time in their life, but is also a poem tinged with sadness as it deals with the period before and immediately after World War One. It reflects the vanishing way of traditional English life and how the speaker is saddened by the changing world. As the title 'MCMXIV' suggests it is a poem, which looks at the past and in contrast to the reality of the world today. The detailed descriptions seem to suggest the speaker is looking at old photographs. Stanza one for example may show that the speaker is looking at on old photograph that shows, 'Long uneven lines standing as patiently as if they were stretched outside the oval...' These long lines maybe the queues of conscripts waiting to sign up to join the army. This shows how in the past people were very willing and eager to fight and even risk their own lives, and also how close the community was in 1914. The spirit at this time is described as, 'A August
The Theme of Time in The Two Poems, 'Days' and 'Toads Revisited'
The Theme of Time in The Two Poems, 'Days' and 'Toads Revisited' By Philip Larkin. The titles of these poems alone suggest there will be a theme of time in them; The title 'Days' speaks for itself as days are a way of measuring time, 'Toads Revisited' however is much more subtle but the notion of revisiting, indirectly tells us that he is going somewhere or doing something that he has done before in his lifetime. 'Days' is a poem about Larkin's views on death and how our approach on the subject can alter the way we live. Larkin begins his first stanza with the rhetorical question of 'What are days for?", though this is a question similar to the biggest question of all time 'What is the meaning of life?' Larkin answers it with a simple monosyllabic response, "Days are where we live". For such a broad and open question this is a very closed, unrefined answer. This could be a reflection of Larkin's view on the meaning of life, that he feels it is not important to search for a complex answer. I get the impression that Larkin is tired of life and its repetitive structure, "They come they wake us, time and time over" this is shown by his impassionate language and monosyllabic style. Its seems as if he feels time is passing too slowly. 'Toads Revisited' unlike 'Days' is the second poem out of two, the first being similar in subject but written 10 years before when Larkin was at
Phillip Larkin
Phillip Larkin Introduction Poet Phillip Larkin was born in Coventry in 1922. Raised in the orthodox middle class he graduated from Oxford in 1943 with a first in English. Already writing about his experiences he named his childhood as 'a forgotten boredom'. Most of his writings had been unnoticed until he began work at Hull University as a librarian in 1955 where he found a suitable publisher. His most famous work was 'The Whitsun weddings' which was published in 1964. Although his work was now growing in popularity he shunned all types of publicity. Eventually he died in 1985. His work spanned over two very important eras in English history - the 50's and 60's. Although both prominent times they were important for very separate reasons. The 50's were remembered by many as a grey time. This was due to the fact that as we were still rebuilding from the damage of the war there was very little or even no entertainment, also shortages of food and essential items were still very apparent. Many people think that Larkin's bleak nature came from this era. At this time he was criticised greatly for his pessimism. The 60's are remembered for much better reasons. It was a time of prosperity for the country and the economy boomed. The tourist industry grew and people shone with confidence. The Large Cool Store The poem starts by introducing what he sees. There is a large store
A Critical Appreciation of Toads Revisited
A Critical Appreciation of Toads Revisited At face value, Philip Larkin's Toads Revisited seems to be a vessel he is using to convey his negative feelings towards work and the working world. Look deeper and you can see that, while he complains about work, it is in actual fact the more favourable option for him, rather than doing nothing at all. Philip Larkin had a Coventry upbringing and attended King Henry VIII School, before moving to Oxford, to St. John's College to study English. There he became part of what was commonly known as 'The Movement', which also included Thom Gunn and Donald Davie. They had a witty, cynical outlook on life and were well known for their anti-romantic ideas. They did not use many metaphors in their works, but instead were rational and frank with their words. This negative way of thinking can be seen within his poems, and is clearly visible within Toads Revisited. The poem starts with a mental image of a park; however the persona does not describe it as an enjoyable place to be. In the second line the words 'should feel better than work' cast a dim shadow over the scene, and quickly change the audience's idea of the poems mood. He begins to list characteristics in a melancholy tone, a typical technique of the persona when he is uninspired. He portrays the children's voices in the playground as 'blurred', to give the impression that the persona's
Larkin has often been regarded as a hopeless and inflexible pessimist. In the light of the 'Whitsun Weddings' how true is this statement?
Larkin has often been regarded as a hopeless and inflexible pessimist. In the light of the 'Whitsun Weddings' how true is this statement? This statement is true to some extent, however, Larkin is regarded as this pessimistic writer of poetry because he is a realist poet. In his work Larkin focuses on intense personal emotion but strictly avoided sentimentality or self-pity, therefore this would create a pessimistic view on his work. Most of Larkin's poetry is very observational and provincial, and his feelings of failure could have affected this. The death of his mother was the main foundation of his depression however in January 1942 he failed an army medical examination due to bad eyesight. He was therefore deemed unfit for military service. This could have affected his depression, so as to outline a motive for his pessimistic poetry. Having saying this, the amount of positive successes' in Larkin's life out numbers the failures. Accolades were granted Larkin in 1965 for his major work on 'The Whitsun Weddings'. The Arts Council Triennial Award for poetry and the Queen's Gold Medal for poetry. The 'Whitsun Weddings' contains many pessimistic poems, 'Nothing to be said' being one of the most opinionated poems in the collected works. The poem starts off by means of criticism. "Cobble-close families", "nuclear family", these quotes create images of cramped terrace
The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin.
The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin 9. Larkin wrote: "I like to read about people who aren't beautiful or lucky, presented with a realistic firmness and humour". How far do you feel that The Whitsun Weddings presents people like this? I have decided to use the following poems for this essay: - Sunny Prestatyn, Toads Revisited, MCMXIV, Take One Home For The Kiddies and The Study Of Reading Habits. The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin does present people who aren't beautiful or lucky, presented with a real firmness and humour. However I believe that it is not shown in the whole of the collection. Sunny Prestatyn is a poem about a poster, which is advertising a seaside resort. The first image is the 'girl' advertising 'Sunny Prestatyn': an icon of femininity and of the beautiful life. The 'girl' has been systematically ruined by vandalism. This poem shows how beauty can be manipulated and made into a joke by some people. This was done by the graffiti and the sexual images, 'Huge tits...tuberous cock and balls', which were drawn on the poster. Beauty in this poem is described as what men find physically attractive about women. 'She was too good for this life' (149) this shows that although the vandals had a laugh when they were drawing over the poster that other people found the poster beautiful and it was destroyed meaning that it was no longer the beautiful image
