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
Analyse how the Larkin's use of form,structure and language shape meaning in MCMXIV .
comment on and analyse how the writer's use of form,structure and language shape meaning in MCMXIV . The poem “MCMXIV” (1914) by Philip Larkin is a poem written in the early 1960’s. Philip Larkin uses Roman numerals to let the reader know that he is writing about the past. The langauge used in this poem is simple however the style has a double meaning which could suggest that the poet is lost in nostalgia. The poem is divided into four stanzas. Each stanza addresses different things, thus Larkin split the poem to separate the different areas of focus. In the poem Larkin repeats the line "never such innocence" at the beginning and end of the last stanza to obviously prevail that their innocence has, obviously, disappeared. This repetition emphasises the author’s message, and further depicts the loss of innocence that can not be replaced. Larkin uses a single sentence for his entire poem, and in each of the stanza’s the last words of lines four and eight ryhme. The use of loose verse resembles the long uneven lines introduced in the first line of the first stanza. Futhermore the use of repetition of pessimistic lines supply an eerie afteglow tot he poem which suits it considering it is a poem based on the First World War. The language of the poem is which could suggest that the poet is lost in imagination visualising the hazy glimpses or scenes of past.
How typical is the style and content of The Old Fools in Larkin's High Windows?
How typical is the style and content of The Old Fools in Larkin's High Windows? The Old Fools is primarily concerned with Larkin's fear of ageing and dying, a fear that pervades through the poems of High Windows. Using a slightly mocking tone, he attemps to understand the thoughts and feelings of the aged on the subject, but instead finds even more questions, and the inevitable realisation that "We will find out." Death is a frequently occurring subject in High Windows: in The Building, Dublinesque, Vers de Societe and The Explosin he explores the inevitability of death and it's consequences on his state of mind. Often, the idea of a lack of consolation from organised religion is present within these poems. Larkin, as an atheist, found little comfort in the idea of an afterlife, believing instead that "oblivion" was the eventual outcome for humankind: "...for unless its powers / Outbuild cathedrals, nothing contravenes / The coming dark..." Oblivion, as a general fate, is not all that appealing, yet Larkin manages to lift the spirit of The Old Fools with subtle touches of humour. The cynicism and sarcasm that he often uses in the collection do not detract from the more serious overtones of the poems, but they do 'lighten the mood', coupled with a use of more uplifting imagery that hints at non-Christian religon. "...all the time merging with a unique endavour / To
