Examine Philip Larkin’s view of love and relationships expressed in his poems in The Whitsun Weddings.
Examine Philip Larkin's View of Love and Relationships Expressed in His Poems in The Whitsun Weddings 'The Whitsun Weddings' published in 1964 by Larkin, made him famous. In the following poems in this essay; one sees reoccurring themes: marriage and relationships, importance (and nature) of love, the passage of time and fantasy with reality. Although not all are directly related to 'love;' some themes could be used to support and explain Larkin's opinions. The content of his poems are everyday life, personal experience or memory. The language used is simple, with irony and humor, which engages the reader. However, when carefully read, one could see deeper interpretations, which reveals Larkin's view of love. 'An Arundel Tomb' was based on an actual stone monument. The main theme in the poem is love and the impact of time on it. However, this could be interpreted as two opposing meanings. Often, as one's 'instinct,' and due to the simplicity of the language: it is seen that Larkin is optimistic about love. But, after careful analysis, one finds another view of love; where it is weak. At first glance, the poem suggests the power of love. 'What will survive of us is love,' this is a strong statement. The word 'will' adds confidence in the prediction that love will 'survive,' which imply love is everlasting (beyond death), and nothing will stop it. The tomb has lasted 'through
Is Larkin entirely cynical about the possibilities of love bringing meaning and happiness to life or is he a close tromantic?
Is Larkin entirely cynical about the possibilities of love bringing meaning and happiness to life or is he a closet romantic? In the poem 'Talking in Bed', Larkin displays a rather bleak and cynical view of lasting love. In the first stanza, Larkin uses a pun in the second sentence. Lying together there goes back so far The word 'lying' can be looked at as physically lying, or the act of lying. Larkin shows his cynical side here as he talks of deceit in the relationship that 'goes back so far'. I believe that Larkin means they are lying about their love for each other, that they don't really love each other but feel they have to because they have been together for so long. An emblem of two people being honest. This sentence follows on from the next in the way that they believe they are being honest by staying together, but really they know they don't love each other. Both are trying to convince themselves that they are doing the right thing by staying together. This pun is also used in 'An Arundel tomb' in the first stanza. Side by side their faces blurred, The count and countess lie in stone. Here Larkin uses the pun to suggest whether or not the count and countess actually loved each other or whether this was just an act and their love was only perceived by their friends and family. This is shown in the third stanza. They would not think to lie so long. Such
Biography - Philip Larkin (1922-85).
Biography Philip Larkin (1922-85) Photograph by Philip Sayer. From the cover of Required Writing. Philip Arthur Larkin was born on August 9, 1922, in Coventry. He was the second child, and only son, of Sydney and Eva Larkin. Sydney Larkin was City Treasurer between the years 1922-44. Larkin's sister, some ten years his senior, was called Catherine, but was known as Kitty. He attended the City's King Henry VIII School between 1930 and 1940, and made regular contributions to the school magazine, The Coventrian, which, between 1939 and 1940, he also helped to edit . After leaving King Henry VIII, he went to St. John's College, Oxford, and despite the war (Larkin had failed his army medical because of his poor eyesight), was able to complete his degree without interruption, graduating in 1943 with a First Class Honours in English. His closest friends at Oxford were Kingsley Amis and Bruce Montgomery. The first of his poems to be published in a national weekly was 'Ultimatum', which appeared in the Listener, November 28, 1940. Then in June 1943, three of his poems were published in Oxford Poetry (1942-43) . These were 'A Stone Church Damaged By A Bomb', 'Mythological Introduction', and 'I dreamed of an out-thrust arm of land'. After graduating, Larkin lived with his parents for a while, before being appointed Librarian at Wellington, Shropshire, in November of 1943.
Choose two poems in which Larkin explores places, Discuss his use of language, form and structure and the attitudes he explores towards the subject (Here & The Importance of Elsewhere).
Choose two poems in which Larkin explores places, Discuss his use of language, form and structure and the attitudes he explores towards the subject (Here & The Importance of Elsewhere). As is common for Larkin he begins the poem "Here" on a journey. This particular poem suggests a train journey from the south-east, maybe in London where Larkin spent a great deal of his time, up to the north-east, to possibly his Home town of Hull. He depicts, from what we imagine to be his seat on the train, many features of post war England as the train moves out of the "industrial shadows" up to rural Landscape and back to urban surroundings before reaching it's final destination. Larkin uses the idea of journeys and travelling to create the sensation of time passing or to illustrate changes in the world or economy. However, unlike "Here", "The Importance of Elsewhere" does not see Larkin begin his journey, rather he begins this poem when he obviously feels, as indicated by the opening line "lonely in Ireland". Many claim that this poem was written during the time Larkin spent working in Ireland. The feeling that perhaps Larkin did not fit in is suggested by the strict half rhyme scheme that run's through this poem, consisting of words that partly rhyme and sound as though they should fit together. "Swerving East from Industrial shadows", Larkin begins his journey in the poem "Here".
How Larkin Portrays The Past and Attitudes To It In MCMXIV and Home Is So Sad.
Becky Wardle 12w How Larkin Portrays The Past and Attitudes To It In MCMXIV and Home Is So Sad The title of the first poem is in Roman numerals. This grabs the readers attention and makes him work out the translation into English. It in fact translates as 1914, the year of the beginning of the First World War. The title also links to Romans, who in the 50/60's were often portrayed as great warriors, forever in battle, conquering foreign lands. The use of roman numerals emphasises the date and gives us the impression that Larkin has a lot of respect for those soldiers who fought for their country. The poem opens with setting the scene, which Larkin often does. Immediately, we can see the contrast Larkin makes about the scene he can see and the modern day (1950's), in observing how patiently the men stand and wait, criticising the hustle and bustle of this century. Larkin underestimates the naivety of the men who are queuing to sign up to fight for their country in the way he mentions The Oval and Villa Park. Larkin is imagining how those men do not know what they are letting themselves in for and how they are just giving themselves up willingly, signing up for a football or cricket match. This gives the reader the impression that Larkin would not have signed up as freely as they did. The vivid scene Larkin creates suggests that he is looking at a photograph. The way
My transformation of Philip Larkin's first-person adult poem, 'Mr Bleaney' into a third and first person short story for a similar audience.
Text Transformation: Commentary My transformation of Philip Larkin's first-person adult poem, 'Mr Bleaney' into a third and first person short story for a similar audience was both rewarding and challenging. Being appreciative of Larkin's work prior to this exercise, I selected the aforementioned piece and 'Here' from a collection of poetry. I made the choice to transform these texts as they to relate to one another in cultural context; namely the working class in the post war period. I was also intrigued by how brightly Larkin's personal view shone through, as 'Mr Bleaney' and 'Here', like a lot of his other work portrays a Spartan view of the working class, for example 'raw estates'. To magnify this, I have named the narrator in the latter part of my piece Philip Smith (a relatively non-descript surname, which makes a link to Mr Bleaney's non-descript life, and the poet's forename which makes a link between his and my narrator's values). I found the base text to be quite restrictive in terms of the characters' views and was therefore eager to develop Mr Bleaney, and offer an insight into whether he enjoyed living such a life or not and why the narrator was so fervent in criticising him. While keeping in line with the poem's purpose to entertain, I accentuated this through humour, sarcasm and irony, for instance; 'Touring my new haven of outdated furnishing and the
ILLUSION VS REALITY
Illusion and Reality Essay Examine how Larkin presents ideas about illusion and reality in his poetry. You should write about 2 or 3 poems The poems "Love Songs in Age" and "Faith Healing", Larkin presents the idea of the illusion and the reality through the format of how people strive for love (being the illusion) and what they really have (being reality). It is conveyed through his abstract concepts and his thoughts towards 'love'. A recurring motif of love is established throughout both poems. The idea that love is no more than a self-protective illusion. The way the poem germinates is also typical of Larkin. An ordinary, seemingly trivial incident is explored and in the process is revealed an inescapable truth about human experience. Perhaps less usual in Larkin's poetry is the lack of cynicism or bitterness. I think this comes from the suggestion that the widow put aside not only her 'love songs' all those years ago, but also the youthful illusions that generate the unrealistic expectations we have of love. In the poem "Faith Healing" and "Love Sings in Age" shows his ideas and feelings in hidden context by making the reader unveil his thoughts on what he thinks. "Upright in rimless glasses, silver hair, Dark suit....", the sibilance in this line emphasise the smoothness and the slickness of the faith healer who is expected to be dressed in this sort of way, He's