The Recurring Theme of Death in the Poetry of Philip Larkin.
The Recurring Theme of Death in the Poetry of Philip Larkin Priti C. Prabhakar English 774 Paper #2 Due: April 9, 2004 In reading the poetry of Philip Larkin for the first time, one is struck by the characteristically glum atmosphere that pervades most of his poems. The vast majority of his verse is devoted to what is generally taken to be negative aspects of life, such as loneliness and dejection, disappointments, loss, and the terrifying prospect of impending death. Evidently, there are uplifting and humorous sides to his work as well, but for certain reasons Larkin is invariably identified with a downhearted, pessimistic temper and tone of voice, conveying a constant sense of failure and of disappointment that underlies all the more specific emotions and reflections of individual poems. Frequently, Larkin is just sad, and one is amazed then at the wide range of things and events, from money ('Money': 'I listen to money singing...It is intensely sad.' (198)), to a delayed plane ('Autobiography at an Air-Station', where the person obviously had hoped to leave before sunset, but cannot, because his machine is several hours delayed. When he says: 'I set...So much on this Assumption. Now it's failed' (78), this response would appear a little oversensitive, did not the title indicate that something more is being dealt with here than just an afternoon at the airport),
Compare the Ways in which Plath and Larkin explore ideas about Parenthood in their poems
Compare the Ways in which Plath and Larkin explore ideas about Parenthood in their poems. Both Plath and Larkin wrote in the mid 20th century, and as such watched the forefront of the women's rights movement. However, Plath committed suicide in 1963, before the 'women's liberation' and consequently had a more imprisoned view of motherhood. Plath herself was a mother to two children, and consequently had a more realistic grasp of being a parent, whereas Larkin never married, and consequently bases his parenthood poems around ideas and concept. One of Larkin's most famous poems relating to parenthood is 'Self's the Man'. His overpowering theme is of the dilution of ones self once having children. He reflected that being a parent weakened you as an individual, through such phrases as 'He has no time at all', which reflects the opinion that parents lose their life, and have to live through their children. However, he admits that he 'is more selfish than Arnold' because his only demand is for himself, which could also relate to the concept of marriage, also mentioned in this poem. This poem infers that children are a sacrifice of life but says that marriage couple are selfish in that they only marry for society's sake, 'he married a woman to stop her getting away', which suggests an indication of oppression of female individuality as well. However, Larkin then goes on to
Discuss the effectiveness and significance of Larkin's evocation of place in his poetry with reference to three poems.
Discuss the effectiveness and significance of Larkin's evocation of place in his poetry with reference to three poems. Lucy Atwell Larkin is renowned for taking familiar landmarks and transferring them by his ludicrous outlook, which in turn engages the reader. It can be challenged that a place used in Larkin's poetry does not evoke feeling, but it's the familiar aspect that Larkin presents. Larkin evocates significance of place in his poetry by means of style, structure and language. This can be seen in 'Importance of Elsewhere', 'Home is so sad' and 'Here', were Larkin uses objects, which establish settings to create feeling. 'Here' was written in 1961 and was originally entitled the 'The Withdrawing Room'; both 'Here' and the old title indicate the importance of place to Larkin, in terms of belonging. The title of 'Home is so sad' also indicates the importance of place in a more negative tone, and indicates the importance of identity through place. The title also indicates Larkin's use of urban cities negatively. 'The importance of elsewhere', also evocates 'place' and challenges conventional living. 'Home is so sad' begins with a negative simple sentence, "Home is so sad". This instantly indicates the negative tone of the poem and points out Larkin's lack of belonging. The poem employs several simple sentences for dramatic effect, these also emphasise the
Critically analyse the themes within Phillip Larkin's "Toads Revisited" and Larkin's handling of the themes throughout the poem.
This essay will critically analyse the themes within Phillip Larkin's "Toads Revisited" and Larkin's handling of the themes throughout the poem. Toads revisited (1964) was written eight years after Larkin's "Toads" following a shift in the persona's attitude towards several themes, which will be discussed throughout this essay. Phillip Larkin was a pessimist in many aspects of his life, Larkin was not religious and held the firm opinion that religion was merely a human invention, designed somewhat as a comfort blanket to help people cope with the fact there is no life after death. Larkin seemed to believe that anything that held any value in his life, such as a romantic relationship, would not last. For this reason, Larkin struggled to find long-lasting love. As Appleyard. B. wrote for the independent (1993) "[Larkin is] a hopeless and inflexible pessimist." and that "Larkin's [depression] was seldom more than grimly inward and futile." It can be argued that this is correct as his pessimistic attitude towards life had a significant impact on his writing, Larkins bleak view on death is a central theme seen in 1980 "Aubade" and "Church going" 1952 (which was written the same summer as "Toads" 1952.) In relation to this, one of the major themes seen throughout Toads revisited is pessimism. The metaphor of the toad used throughout both poems holds dark, oppressive
What impression do we form of childhood in "I Remember, I Remember" and "Growing Up"? What similarities/differences do we recognise in the poets' approach?
What impression do we form of childhood in "I Remember, I Remember" and "Growing Up"? What similarities/differences do we recognise in the poets' approach? In the poem "Growing Up", by U.A. Fanthorpe, the main theme of childhood is trivialised by the poet in the first stanza. "Shoplifting daintily into my pram" implies gracefulness and therefore is a humorous. However, at the same time, it is light-hearted and trivialises the age of being a baby. The poet mocks the years when you are a baby, too, describing her action of "burrowing my way through the long yawn of infancy". This suggests that she is hiding from the years of infancy. At the same time, it mocks infancy as the "long yawn" refers to the fact that babies tend to sleep a lot when they are very young. Fanthorpe's choice of words shows her dislike for childhood. "Nudging" implies that childhood was urging her insistently and annoyingly to grow up, and she did not want to go through childhood. "Nudging" implies persistence, which can be perceived to be annoying. Moreover, she relates sordid and negative experiences with growing up. "Hairy, fleshy growths and monthly outbursts" and "blood-thighed" are examples of this. This emphasises her dislike for childhood. The poet shows that childhood is mechanical by describing the people who fit into society as "well-oiled bolts". This is not a warm description of childhood,
Discuss The Qualities That Make Larkin A Highly Regarded Poet Of The Last Half Century
By Close Reading Of At Least Three Of His Poems, Discuss The Qualities That Make Larkin A Highly Regarded Poet Of The Last Half Century Philip Larkin's famous melancholic quality and personality is mirrored in his poetry greatly, reflecting his life; his difficult childhood and the strange, opposite relationships he had with his parents. Larkin was incredibly intelligent in a very unusual way, he saw and observed everything in his own, unique manner, giving us, an ordinary reader, an insight into the world the way Larkin saw it. At the same time making sure that his sense of bitterness and resentment is bought across. 'Toads' by Philip Larkin is a poem which reflects what Larkin sees as work. The poem makes Larkin sound that he is elusive; as if he cannot find happiness. He uses metaphors throughout the poem to achieve what seems to change the affect an ordinary poem has on one, making it more literal and realistic. This idea of realism through description and metaphors is also used in 'The Whitsun Weddings' by Larkin. The title is the first example of such a metaphor. Nobody likes to work and everyone dislikes toads. He has deliberately chosen something disgusting and horrible to show how he and society feels about work. One of Larkin's strengths was to reflect on how society reacts in many of his poems; such as 'Afternoons' and 'The Whitsun Weddings'. All the
Larkin - Consider
Consider "Here", Whitsun Weddings" and "Arundel Tomb" as explorations of identity and time. Larkin has been criticised over the years for the moroseness of his poems, the blackened description of everyday life that some people say lacks depth, however, unlike many other poets, Larkin does not always write the truth or the depth of his feelings. In many there is a voice, trying to convince its author of something that is usually quite evident or exploring itself but revealing only the surface. Why he is trying to convince himself and what are is true feelings present the real challenge and profundity of Larkin poems. The search for one's identity, combined for everybody in one's unique fantasies and realities is a recurrent theme in his poems. As is time, the passing of it, the transformation it engenders and the damage it inflicts. In "Here", identity or the search for one's identity is the main theme. The search is symbolised by the journey taken by Larkin, which takes him through the countryside before Hull, through Hull and finally into the countryside and the beach outside Hull. He finds his identity in the countryside outside Hull, however, he knows that although it is here that he yearns for, it is not his true self, it is his fantasy, the "Here" he would like to live in but that is nevertheless "out of reach". His real identity can be found in Hull with the people and
Larkin is often portrayed as being obsessed by death, but High Windows is as much about life as it is about death. How true do you find this statement?
Larkin is often portrayed as being obsessed by death, but High Windows is as much about life as it is about death. How true do you find this statement? Larkin was 52 when High Windows was published and the collection is dominated by poems about the loss of youth, time passing and the imminence of death. Even in poems not explicitly based on these themes, they are still hinted at. Although some of the poems are about youth, some about aging and some on death, in a way all these are referring to mortality. I agree that there are poems, such as Show Saturday and To the Sea, which celebrate aspects of life but there are far fewer poems about life than about death. The Building is one of the bleakest poems, where Larkin describes a hospital and the stark inevitability of death. The poem builds up an atmosphere by the enigmatic treatment of the building; Larkin avoids spelling out that the building is a hospital but treats it as an atheistic cathedral, left in the atheistic society. Larkin begins the account outside the building. It can be seen from far away and resembles a 'lucent comb', emphasising the busyness of the workers and the way in which individuals are depersonalised, like bees in a hive. Its height is repeated in the 4th stanza as evidence of its importance within today's society. The comparison with the 'handsomest hotel' suggests that is far more important to
What points about the quality of life are made in 'Days' by Philip Larkin and 'What Is Our Life' by Walter Raleigh? In what ways are they similar?
WHAT POINTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARE MADE IN 'DAYS' BY PHILIP LARKIN AND 'WHAT IS OUR LIFE' BY WALTER RALEIGH? IN WHAT WAYS ARE THEY SIMILAR? 'Days' by Philip Larkin and 'What is our Life' by Sir Walter Raleigh are two similar poems separated by many years. 'Days' is a modern-day poem by Philip Larkin. It is short and simple. It talks about the quality and duration of life. It begins by asking the question of 'what are days for?' The reply to this suggests that days represent place as well as time: 'Days are where we live' Days are repetitive, and seemingly endless. 'Time and time over' The poet then answers his question at the start. 'They are to be happy in' He is saying that days are meant to be happy but often they are not. He then asks the meaning of life. 'Where can we live but days?' He does not answer that question himself but instead says that: 'Ah, solving that question Brings the priest and the doctor' To solve this problem we need a priest and a doctor. The doctor represents the physical problems in life, and the priest represents the spiritual aspect. The long coats in the next line symbolise expertise. The fact that priest and doctor are at the end of the poem suggest that these are the last people we see in our life. 'What is our Life?' is a 16th century poem written by Sir Walter Raleigh. It says that life is a brief play which we all
Consider the impact of the last few liens of a poem you have studied, referring closely to the language of the whole poem, examine how well these lines act as a conclusion to the whole poem. Afternoons by Philip Larkin.
AFTERNOONS Consider the impact of the last few liens of a poem you have studied, referring closely to the language of the whole poem, examine how well these lines act as a conclusion to the whole poem. In the poem "Afternoons" by Philip Larkin the closing lines are an effective conclusion top the poem as a whole. The closing lines conclude the fact that young mothers are being repressed by society and that they are being forced into a dull joyless life. 'Afternoons' is based around young mothers looking after their children. The pressures of society have forced them into marrying young and having children. Due to this they have lost all the joy in their lives and are settling down into a dull meaningless life. The closing lines of afternoons state that "Something is pushing them To the side of their own lives" This effectively concludes the poem as it refers closely to the poems main theme which is developed throughout the poem. The last lines sum up the fact that the pressures of society have forced the mothers into the dull lives that they are currently living. The idea that the young mothers have lost their lives is developed through the whole of the poem. It is effectively introduced in the opening lines of the poem where the poet states "Summer is fading Leaves fall in ones and twos, from Trees bordering the recreation ground" Summer is a metaphor for the
