There is a strong resemblance, both visually and literally, between the two poems 'Cut Grass' and 'The Trees'.

There is a strong resemblance, both visually and literally, between the two poems 'Cut Grass' and 'The Trees'. The most palpable resemblance is that they are both written by the same poet: Philip Larkin. Both the poems portray life towards death. Visually, they both contain three verses, consisting of four lines each. Though they are not exactly the same in every aspect, there are some differentiating characteristics between the two poems. 'The Trees', is a small three stanza composition, rhyming 'ABBACDDC'. The opening line of 'The Trees' conveys to us that they have started their yearly cycle of germinating. 'The trees are coming into leaf'. The last line of the first verse is purposefully early. Philip Larkin uses the word 'grief'. He intended to use this word to intensify the theme. The noun grief means extreme sadness. ' Their greenness is a kind of grief'. In this line, Larkin assigns the tree with the emotion 'grief'. There is a modification of the popular saying 'green with envy', which Larkin uses as 'greenness is a kind of grief'. Their greenness is a sign that they are reaching the end of their lives, he is in some ways telling us that 'the writing is on the wall'. Therefore, he chooses to use the word ' grief' to show that it is not a blissful future, but short and sad. This shows us what Philip Larkin thought of death. He put this stanza early in the poem to show

  • Word count: 1216
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Essay analysis on 'an Arundel Tomb'

Essay analysis on "An Arundel Tomb" The poem 'An Arundel Tomb' written by Phillip Larkin illustrates the relationship between two forms found on a tomb. This poem shows the 'lies' love can tell, and the falseness of how their relationship is portrayed. The fact that their hands are clasped in one another's grip is seen to be symbolic of their undying and everlasting love for each other. Larkin uses humour, along with sarcasm and irony to demonstrate that this is in fact symbolic of nothing and merely by 'a sculptor's sweet commissioned grace'. How can we believe this evident lie, for it is not them who have chosen to be placed like this? Therefore it cannot be a true show of emotions. Furthermore not just one life but two, and how their personalities were adjoined together cannot merely be judged by the way their hands have been similarly adjoined together on their tombstone. Archaic language is used within this poem to emphasise the age of the tombs. In the first line of the first stanza it says 'their faces blurred' this also illustrates the age of the tombs and how long it has been since they had lived and felt this 'love', as it shows the stone has begun to corrode. This is perhaps also a metaphor for their feelings towards one another; they have also corroded like the stone. The truth of their love is 'blurred'. This demonstrates another key theme in this poem, time

  • Word count: 943
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Compare and Contrast "Trees in the Garden" by D.H.Lawrence And "The Trees" by P.Larkin

Compare and Contrast: "Trees in the Garden" by D.H.Lawrence And: "The Trees" by P.Larkin Trees in the Garden (hereafter referred to as TG) is a poem concentrating on the beauty of trees, in the calm before the coming thunderstorm. We can tell that the storm is coming by the phrase: "...thunder air..." which is later repeated. The trees seem to be showing their beauty to the poet for the first time. We can see this by the exclamation in the phrase "How still the trees are!" and it is as if they have usually been a distraction to him. The Trees even though having a similar subject to TG has a very different tone. The Trees is about the new buds of a tree, in spring, and their growth. The poet also seems to describe the aging process of all trees and what seems to be its continuous cycle of death and rebirth, almost like the cycle of Samsara in Hinduism. We can see this from the line: "Is it that they are born again...?" The question mark represents the poet's pondering. The main reason for the poet's contemplation of the trees is that they seem to cheat him of his youth. TG is enthusiastic about the trees and the poem talks of them as if they are his life source and it is the essence of his dreams. He is very optimistic in his expression of the trees. He mainly concentrates on the description of their vivid colours. He is very sure of the trees and it is as if he

  • Word count: 1634
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

To what extent, in terms of subject matter and style, do you consider 'High Windows' to be an appropriate title poem for the collection?

To what extent, in terms of subject matter and style, do you consider 'High Windows' to be an appropriate title poem for the collection? High Windows is a collection that deals with several interlinking themes. One of the most obvious is that of windows, which are used throughout the poems as an analogy for reflection, retrospection, observations and external or internal influences. Other themes such as death, religion, youth, sex tradition, society and outside observers also occur frequently throughout the collection. It could be said that the poem High Windows includes and explores many of these themes, and as such provides a good summation of the content of the others. Its form and structure can also be compared to the rest of the collection - Larkin uses some very specific techniques and structural decisions within several of the poems, and High Windows is perhaps one of the best examples of where these techniques are used to the best effect. In High Windows, Larkin employs free verse with a simple rhyme scheme. This could be said to be fairly unusual, as in other poems such as To The Sea he uses very complex rhyme schemes. He often chooses to rhyme between stanzas, and this is clearly a very conscious and crafted decision. Larkin also makes use of traditional poetic forms - for example, The Card-Players takes the form of a sonnet. The fact he has chosen to use free

  • Word count: 1356
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Do you find Larkins verse critical of ordinary people or does he champion their cause?

Do you find Larkin's verse critical of ordinary people or does he champion their cause? Philip Larkin is a post war poet who was considered a man of the people who wrote ordinary poetry for ordinary people. He is very much an ordinary man himself as he worked as librarian as Hull; however in many of his poems he is often critical of the working class- his own kind- and sometimes views them as stupid and naive. Toads Revisited is typical of Larkin's conflicting opinions of the working class. In the first stanza the speaker conveys a pleasant setting of "the lake, the sunshine, the grass to lie on" and says it is "not a bad place to be"; suggesting that he appears to be enjoying his walk around the park and being an ordinary working man. However there is a forewarning to this illusion that the speaker finds himself in with the conditional "should" and typical Larkin contrast comes with "yet it doesn't suit me". This represents the idea that the speaker is not satisfied with being out of work on an afternoon and thus shows that Larkin does not enjoy being one of the ordinary people. He paints a very negative picture of the men you find in a park at this time; "palsied old step-takers; waxed-flesh out-patients; characters in long coats" which conveys an idea of a group of poor, ill and troublesome people and a group that the speaker is keen to distance himself from. There is a

  • Word count: 1027
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

A Practical Criticism on 'Here by Phillip Larkin 'Here' was published in 1964 as part of a collection of poems collectively titled 'The Whitsun Weddings'

A Practical Criticism on 'Here by Phillip Larkin 'Here' was published in 1964 as part of a collection of poems collectively titled 'The Whitsun Weddings'. It explores the feelings and judgements towards a location and the falsity of the modern industrial culture as it consumes traditional life. The poem describes the mixed judgements of the narrator as he passes through the town on a train journey, as well as concomitantly examining the features of a emblematic reversed journey from 'industrial' restraints to 'unfenced existence' The first stanza opens with the word 'swerving' which is repeated twice more in the same verse, suggesting that the train is trying to avoid something, such as the irrevocable destruction of the surrounding nature. This theory is supported by the description of the 'thin and thistled' fields; they are no longer flourishing as their well-being is not the priority. This reflects the condition of society as elderly people are often neglected due to the increasing concentration on modernism. The first line describes the effect that the industrial revolution has had on society with its 'rich industrial shadows'. The adjective 'rich' offers images of wealth and prosperity which would be a result of the industrial advancement of the town. However this positivism is withdrawn with the noun 'shadows' placed in juxtaposition, which pragmatically suggests

  • Word count: 944
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

How far do you agree that Larkin's poems are too depressing to be effective?

How far do you agree that Larkin's poems are too depressing to be effective? What makes an effective poem? As this is a rather ambiguous question, I think it is important to first clarify what I think makes an effective poem. The most obvious aspect of a poem that makes it effective is language, imagery and some sort of rhythm. However, this does not make a poem complete. For someone like myself who does not appreciate poetry much unless it evokes some sort of emotion in me, would definitely think that it is emotions, which are integral in making poems successfully effective. Another aspect of a poem, which makes it powerful, is its ability to revive the reader's imagination and amuse them. A good poem makes you feel like you've been there before, takes you back to a feeling you have had before, a situation in your life that you have experienced or want to experience. Larkin's poems are known to be depressing but to what extent are they depressing, is this a negative trait and does it stop them from being effective? To explore this idea I will look closely at two of Larkin's poems, Ambulances and A study of reading habits to discuss the techniques and ideas Larkin uses which make his poems depressing and effective. I chose to explore A study of reading habits because I think it is one of Larkin's poems, which amuses me the most. Larkin uses rather colloquial language in his

  • Word count: 1336
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

An 'A' Level candidate described Larkin as a "grumpy, old, git". Based on High Windows how far do you agree with this statement?

An 'A' Level candidate described Larkin as a "grumpy, old, git". Based on High Windows how far do you agree with this statement? Larkin could be seen as conforming to the image of a 'grumpy, old, git', as thought by critics and even more so by the youth of today. Through his anthology 'High Windows' a window itself is opened into the Larkin's complex character where grumpy, old and git do apply, however this could be seen as generalisation as many poems suggest otherwise. In High Windows there are two definitions of Larkin as old, the first of which is Larkin resigning himself to the past with a sense of despair as to being and feeling old. In 'High Windows' this is shown reverently with the use of the simile "like an outdated combine harvester" through this he evokes a mood of despair. It shows Larkin to feel old-fashioned and out of date, thus alienated from modern on-goings and society, presenting an image of Larkin rusting away forgotten replaced by the next generation. In 'The Trees' Larkin portrays the sadness at the youth he no longer feels "their greenness is a kind of grief". Instead of viewing the beauty of youth and the pleasure which it brings he shows a selfish view, one of which portrays a bitter and miserable old man. Larkin uses parenthesis in 'Annus Mirabilis' to visually illustrate to the reader his isolation "(Which was rather late for me)". It portrays

  • Ranking:
  • Word count: 1848
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Larkin returned again and again to a study of the loner, the man outside society. Referring to three poems you have studied explore this theme

Larkin returned again and again to a study of the loner, the man outside society. Referring to three poems you have studied explore this theme Philip Larkin studies, in detail, the life of the loner in three of his poems Mr Bleaney, Self's the Man and Dockery and Son. The three poems are amazingly different when one considers that they are essentially around the same topic. A question that can be asked is why did Larkin produce so many pieces of work on loners. Could it be that he was portraying himself in his work, or was it that he was simply trying to express himself through his work. Whatever the reason is, it is plain to see that Larkin saw the topic of loners as one in which he could write comprehensive pieces of poetry. Mr Bleaney, Self's the Man and Dockery and Son are all set in very different situations and this may reflect different parts of the poet's life. The theme of loners is a very complex one and in each of the three poems mentioned Larkin takes a different angle on it. The poem Mr Bleany is written as if Larkin himself has taken up residence in the room where Mr Bleany once stayed in a bed sit. Mr Bleaney's life is re-told by Larkin from what the landlady has told him. It gives the reader the impression that Mr Bleany led a simple and uncomplicated life, and was in many ways a loner, including making the same trip for his short holiday away from working at

  • Word count: 1096
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

How is the idea of love presented in Broadcast by Phillip Larkin?

How is the idea of love presented in ‘Broadcast’ by Phillip Larkin? Larkin presents the love as something which is easily defeated by time and death. In his poems he emphasises how love changes over time and is ultimately destroyed, however, Dannie Abse, emphasises the power of love and when it is faced with challenges, it only becomes stronger. ‘Broadcast’ by Larkin, the only love poem he admits to writing, portrays a more realistic yet negative concept of love. For example, ‘I think of your face among all faces’, the simple language used emphasises his yearning for her. The simple language also reflects his desire; her. This is especially effective because ‘among all faces’ he only thinks of her, which shows she is always on his mind; he is truly in love with her. Further into the poem he compares her to music –‘Beautiful and devout before cascades of monumental slithering’- doing this highlights how pure and simple she and their love is to him. This simplicity makes their love seem more beautiful because they only need each other. ‘I lose all but the outline of the still and withering leaves on half-emptied trees’ – the enjambment used after ‘withering’ emphasises the word and implies that their love is threatened by time. Larkin uses natural imagery with the idea that leaves wither just as love withers. His perceives love as something

  • Word count: 812
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay