Larkin - Churchgoing and High Windows
PHILIP LARKIN (1922-1985) BIOGRAPHY Philip Larkin was born in Coventry, England, in 1922. He was (and still is) one of the most well-known and widely read poets in England, yet his writing and personal politics are also quite controversial. He was a poet, novelist, and critic, a leading figure of 'The Movement,' term coined to describe a group of British poets that coalesced during the 1950s. 'The Movement' poets addressed everyday British life in a plain, straightforward language and often in traditional forms. He was educated at King Henry VIII School where he wrote for the school magazine. At the age of 18 he entered St. John's College Oxford, where he studied English and met Kingsley Amis. After graduating he became a librarian. Larkin wrote nearly continuously throughout his adult life, but he also made his living as a librarian for several university libraries. As a poet Larkin made his debut with the collection THE NORTH SHIP in 1945, written using short lines and carefully worked-out rhyme schemes. It was published at his own expense. The sad songs showed the influence of Yeats. It was followed by two novels, JILL (1946) and A GIRL IN WINTER (1947). Among Larkin's major works are THE LESS DECEIVED (1955) and THE WHITSUN WEDDINGS (1964), in which the title-poem describing the poet's journey by train from Hull to London is his best-known works. Larkin used
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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),
Explore the themes and attitudes of Phillip Larkin's
With close reference to the poem, say what interests you about the way in which the poet writes. Explore the themes, ideas and attitudes you perceive in the poem. After reading the poem for the first time, I felt that it conveyed a general sense of satisfaction. But after studying the poem closely, other aspects suggest a feeling of disappointment that the poet has. This becomes particularly clear after the change in perspective in the last verse. Everything seems to have altered from its original perfection. The main theme that features throughout the poem is one of time. In the first stanza, the poet illustrates what he sees when he revisits the seaside and is flooded with memories of past times spent here. The poet uses lots of adjectives to describe the activities going on, "Steep beach, blue water, towels, red bathing caps, warm yellow sand." The poet creates an unreal and clichéd appearance of the scene by using primary colours for adjectives. This is emphasised by the onomatopoeic effect of "hushed waves' repeated fresh collapse" which furthers the idea of the perfect destination. The poet also creates the image that time has stopped, firstly through the use of punctuation. The third and last lines of the first stanza are ended with a dash. This creates a pause for the reader and therefore the impression that time has stayed still. The poet also shows the image of
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
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
