A critical analysis of Philip Larkin's 'Mr Bleaney'.

Rachael Ward Tutor: Mr R. Pooley Twentieth Century Literature: 20% Exercise A critical analysis of Philip Larkin's 'Mr Bleaney'. Richard Davie once claimed that whilst he "recognised in Larkin's [poetry] the seasons of present-day England, [he also] recognised...the seasons of an English soul".1 In fact Philip Larkin's very interest in human nature, together with his dislike of "...self-indulgent romanticism..."2, contributed to the character and final draft of 'Mr Bleaney'. By pulling the life and personality of the ordinary English bachelor with that of the poetic personae who is about to buy into Mr Bleaney's apartment, not to mention his life and ways, Larkin is able debate whether 'how we live [actually] measures our own nature', a fear that plagued the author as well as the poetic personae. As we are escorted around Mr Bleaney's apartment the landlady describes how he stayed there 'the whole time he was at the Bodies'. To be at 'the Bodies' suggests that Mr Bleaney's stay in the apartment and even on this earth was only temporary. His body appears to be just a casing, thus implying that Mr Bleaney was simply the shell of man who was waiting to die. His life is empty, lonely and predictable. The poem's simple 'AB' rhyming scheme also emphasises the predictable, routine and limited life of Mr Bleaney, hence a life with only one pattern. Through the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Some critics suggest that Larkin portrays human existence as bleak in his poetry - to what extent do you agree with this view in Mr Bleaney?

Some critics suggest that Larkin portrays human existence as bleak in his poetry - to what extent do you agree with this view in Mr Bleaney? On the surface, 'Mr Bleaney' is a poem about a man that has come to live in a home formally occupied by Mr Bleaney. The subtext of the poem is concerned with a man's fear that his life has become a routine - in the way that he believes Mr Bleaney's life had been. Throughout this essay, I shall discover whether the themes in 'Mr Bleaney' conform to the view of some critics - that Larkin's poetry is a portrayal of bleak human existence - whilst analysing the undertones of the poem. The title is very important for revealing the nature of the poem. 'Bleaney' has connotations of the words 'bleak' 'mean' and 'dreary', which could convey a lot about Mr Bleaney's personality but also give a clue to the content of the rest of the poem. The first stanza begins 'This was Mr Bleaney's room'. This establishes the precise setting for the rest of the poem. The use of caesura and enjambment help to control the pace within the first stanza. Mr Bleaney obviously used to work for a car manufacturing company 'the Bodies, till they moved him'. This could either mean that the company moved him elsewhere or that Mr Bleaney is dead. Larkin then begins to describe the surroundings 'Flowered curtains, thin and frayed, Fall to within five inches of the sill'.

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  • Word count: 1425
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The Whitsun Weddings" is Larkin's longest poem and describes the protagonists long, leisurely train journey from Hull to London. Larkin wanted the poem "to construct a verbal device that would preserve an experience

Reg No. 546692 EN1021, Reading Literature "The Whitsun Weddings" is Larkin's longest poem and describes the protagonists long, leisurely train journey from Hull to London. Larkin wanted the poem "to construct a verbal device that would preserve an experience indefinitely by reproducing it in whoever read the poem.1" He uses a certain poetic form to share the experience of his journey with the reader, so through the structure and the narrative, they can relive the emotions and sensations he felt. Larkin creates an almost "plodding" rhythm through the rhyme scheme and his use of iambic pentameter. The poetic form is quite regular with eights stanzas, each consisting of ten lines and rhyming a b a b c d e c d e which creates the rhythmic sound of a train as it gathers speed. The continuous rhyming pattern throughout the eight verses and the pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables in each iambic pentameter, re-enacts the rocking sensation of traveling on a train. The run of pentameters is interrupted in each stanza by a second line of two stressed syllables. This sudden break represents the hesitant movement of the train. Larkin uses enjambment and run-on verses to create a sense of purposeful, onward movement, showing that the train does not stop until it reaches its destination. Larkin uses the rhythm in the poem to capture the speed of the train. The poem opens with

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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A Critical Appreciation of Campos De Castilla

A Critical Appreciation of Campos De Castilla "Cinco anos en la tierra de Soria, hoy para mi sagrada - alli me case, alli perdi a mi esposa, a quien adoraba - orientaron mis ojos y mi corazon hacia lo esencial castellano." Antonio Machado's love for Soria and the land of Castile is definitely one of the predominant issues in "Campos de Castilla". However, one must look at the development of Machado's life and how his mood is reflected in his poetry as well as how his influential friends had a bearing on his literary style and beliefs. The shift Machado made around 1904 in his poetry is an important one since it defines much of "Campos de Castilla". Geoffery Ribbans says that: "1904 produce una nueva tendencia a ocuparse de asuntos y objetos externos, si bien estos siguen estando estrechamente relacionados con su vida y sus emociones." Machado became more concerned with the relations between the creating self and the external world as opposed to his previous work which had been more self-absorbed and introspective. It is true that Unamuno did have an influence in this shift as well as with Machado's search for God later on in his life; but it is evident in Machado's earlier poetry that he made the change for himself. A good starting point is "A Orillas del Duero" which contains many aspects of Machado's poetry as well as being very striking. Firstly, the opening is very

  • Word count: 1821
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Discursive Written Analysis of Wherever I Hang by Grace Nichols and Reflections by Mario Petrucci.

Suzanne Parry 03056922 Discursive Written Analysis. Wherever I Hang. Grace Nichols Reflections. Mario Petrucci. On first looking at the two pieces I have chosen, the preference of dialect fluctuate to a great extent, giving each poem a dissimilar insight to the dialect to each author. In Wherever I Hang, the idiom is of a native tongue to the Caribbean, with its seemingly imperfect sentences. 'Had big rats in de floorboards' V1 Line 5 Where as Mario Petrucci has used Received Pronunciation, giving the reader more complete sentences. 'Bees will sting like a razor' V1 Line 1 The vocabulary in Petrucci's Reflection is uncomplicated to read although every line is a metaphor, proficiently put together to make the reader observe each line in detail. While also generating a number of connotations in each line, giving the reader room for thought. A good paradigm could be gained from almost every line, but the fourth line is most apt. 'Hills as old as hats' V1 Line 4 It isn't until one hears this that the thought of hats sat on top of a wardrobe or on shelves in hatboxes, comes into realization of the accuracy that this one sentence becomes clear, giving the line a conceit of its own. On the other side of the scale is Grace Nichols Wherever I Hang, which although clear in its context, can be hard to read if the accent is not known. In the first line there are

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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An interviewer once remarked to Larkin that" Your favourite subjects are failure and weakness" How far do you agree that failure and weakness are favourite subjects in the 'Whitsun weddings'.

An interviewer once remarked to Larkin that" Your favourite subjects are failure and weakness" How far do you agree that failure and weakness are favourite subjects in the 'Whitsun weddings'. In the answer you should either refer to two poems in detail or range more widely. The poems 'Mr Bleaney', 'Dockery and son' and 'Wild oats' are all presented with the subjects of failure and weakness. Failure is to be disappointed with something you have wanted to achieve or attain and so the subject of failure in the poems will be seen as someone being unsuccessful. Weakness means the flaw or fault thus giving the person limitations in their plans. In the poem Mr Bleaney, Larkin uses the first five stanzas to describe the room and Mr Bleaney's life. We get the impression of an uncomfortable, plain, functional room. Larkin gives us this impression by calling it a 'hired box'. This describes Mr bleaney's room but can also refer to Mr Bleaney's coffin. Larkin goes on to describe the room, 'Flowered curtains, thin and frayed'. The curtains seem to become Mr Bleaney himself. The overall sense of chilliness and dreariness which comes from the room extends to Mr Bleaney himself, whom we imagine to be thin, shivering and isolated, with little protection from the outside world and the "frigid wind" which better fitting curtains might have provided. This lack of protection shows the failure

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Larkin - a look at the mood poems were written in by Larkin

Larkin is an established poet and was cherished by people all around the world. He won the respect of many readers, critics and non-critics. He was gifted in his writing and through this gift he bought us the poems we have today. Larkin therefore can be said to be a memorable poet and this will now be investigated. How is he memorable? And what makes him memorable? To start the investigation off I am going to look at the mood poems were written in by Larkin. Each poem is set in its own mood and the mood can help the reader to understand the poem. "Dockery and Son" is the first poem. It is about Larkin going to a funeral and remembering one of his university colleagues called Dockery. Larkin has found out that his son now attends the university and this leads on to the general image of the poem. "...In '43, when I was twenty-one. If he was younger, did he get this son At nineteen, twenty? Was he that withdrawn..." (Larkin page 152 Dockery and Son) This quote shows the awe that Larkin shows at this point in time. The poem was written in a sad mood as it is a remembrance poem. He then continues the poem in much the same way showing his point of view and talking about a popular concept for him, life. "Life is first boredom, then fear. Whether or not we use it, it goes....." (Larkin page 153 Dockery and Son) Life is a matter that Larkin talks about a lot of the time.

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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With reference to "The Telephone Call" and "Telephone Conversation" discuss and compare the effectiveness of the poet's choice of form, style and use of poetic techniques in order to convey their messages.

With reference to "The Telephone Call" and "Telephone Conversation" discuss and compare the effectiveness of the poet's choice of form, style and use of poetic techniques in order to convey their messages. The overall message carried in Wole Soyinka's poem "Telephone Conversation" is the fact that blacks are treated with unbelievable ignorance. I believe that Soyinka conveys this message very effectively through the use of form, style and poetic techniques. The form of "Telephone Conversation" seems to almost represent a dramatic monologue. This is quite ironic because there are actually two people speaking. Perhaps by giving the poem this form, Soyinka is trying to suggest that the African man feels like he's talking to himself, since the landlady is almost ignoring what he says. I believe the continuous form of the poem can reflect the continuing ignorance of white people towards black people. Soyinka's style exposes racism in a fairly critical, yet humorous way. This is clearly shown with the comical line of "You mean - like plain or milk chocolate?" When reading this for the first time, we are amused by this comparison; however, working on a different level, we can appreciate the critical sarcasm that Soyinka conveys towards the ignorance of the white landlady. Soyinka's humorous sarcasm is also seen when the man says "West African sepia" and "Down in my passport."

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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By referring to at least two poems, discuss by what means Larkin illustrates the disparity between reality and illusion in his poems.

By referring to at least two poems, discuss by what means Larkin illustrates the disparity between reality and illusion in his poems. Larkin lived in a time when ideals and touchstones were falling apart and capitalism had put an emphasis on individual effort. Larkin, therefore, reflected the essence of his times in sarcastic tones; his main concern was life and its discontents and his ability to write about the impossibility of understanding psychological reality (illusion) in a general social reality, is what made Larkin him. Illusion and reality are two very important themes that run throughout Larkin's poems and are going to be discussed in the following; 'Essential Beauty,' 'Sunny Prestatyn,' 'Wild Oats' - and in the first two poems, Larkin deals with the way in which we torment ourselves with images that we cannot translate into reality, although in the latter, gives us an attempt by Larkin at a mature relationship. Sunny Prestatyn is a poem, much like Essential Beauty, is a poem where advertising hoardings are employed to test the distance between idealised vision of perfection and the uncombed world we actually live in. The opening stanzas of both present us with these unattainable images of 'how life should be.' The attractions of 'Sunny' Prestatyn; the girl on the poster, "Glad in tautened white satin," dominates as the coastline and hotel behind her, "...expand

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Critical evaluation of High Windows by Philip Larkin

KATHLEEN BAKER. ACCESS COURSE GROUP C Write a critical evaluation of a poem. HIGH WINDOWS When I see a couple of kids And guess he's fucking her and she's Taking pills or wearing a diaphragm, I know this is paradise Everyone old has dreamed of all their lives Bonds and gestures pushed to one side Like an outdated combine harvester, And everyone young going down the long slide To happiness, endlessly. I wonder if Anyone looked at me, forty years back, And thought, That'll be the life; No God any more, or sweating in the dark About hell and that, or having to hide What you think of the priest. He And his lot will all go down the long slide Like free bloody birds. And immediately Rather than words comes the thought of high windows: The sun-comprehending glass, And beyond it, the deep blue air, that shows Nothing, and is nowhere, and is endless PHILIP LARKIN

  • Word count: 797
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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