Philip Larkin’s poem “Talking in Bed” tells the truth about life and how relationships can slowly descend overtime. It explores the idea that no matter how close we are to someone, we can still experience intense depths of loneliness. The language emphasizes the feelings of what an empty marriage may feel like. The poem also gives the impression it is from the male’s perspective. It is written in four stanzas, each with three lines of ten syllables apiece. This makes it a short lyrical ballad. Through the tone, the language, and the imagery, Larkin is able to create a feeling in which he can effectively criticize and deconstruct the subject of innocence in relation to his current life experiences. There are many examples of imagery in this poem, all of which show two people in bed, lying close to each other, but somewhat distant in their relations as they realize how much they have changed. “Talking in Bed” also shows symbolism and lines that express multiple meanings by explaining the ultimate error throughout human history, man and wife living out their days with each other, yet being completely alone. They are not able to find the words that were once there, or knowing that the words that were once there never had true meaning. The author of the poem discusses right away that lying with one's partner is the basis of human nature, "Lying together there goes back so far, / an emblem of two people being honest" (1.1-2). However, through the use of words the meanings can be interpreted in many ways and take on entirely different meanings. As one would first read, "Lying together" seems innocent enough, as the image of two lovers clutching each other in a romantic embrace comes straight to mind. However, it can be said that the ... ... middle of paper ... ...al form from the first stanza through to the fourth. In the first stanza, the poet hints that the couple involved have been together for quite some time; "Lying together there goes back so far". It has a very powerful message for everyone that reads it, and because the language is so simple, it is even more effective in getting that message across. The reader would imagine that the feeling they experience at the end of the poem must be how the poet would feel while lying in bed with his lover, unable to express himself as "more and more time passes silently". Works Cited Black, Joseph Laurence. “Philip Larkin.” The Broadview Anthology of British Literature. Vol. B. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview, 2007. Pg. 1424. Print. "Oxford English Dictionary." Search Results - Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Web. 19 Mar. 2011. .
In all poems the theme of Disappointment in love is seen throughout. Duffy focuses on the pain, despair and acrimony that love can bring, whereas Larkin focuses on the dissatisfaction before, during, and after a romantic relationship. Both Duffy and Larkin differ in tone. Duffy takes a more aggressive and dark stance to portray what love can do to a person after a disappointing love life. Duffy also uses this sinister and aggressive stance to try and convey sympathy for the persona from the audience in ‘Never Go Back’ and ‘Havisham’ Whereas Larkin conveys his discontent in love through his nonchalant and dismissive tone, but still concealing the pain that has been brought by love in ‘Wild Oats’ and ‘Talking in bed’.
With reference to three poems studied so far discuss how Larkin presents the theme of illusion and reality.
The informal language and intimacy of the poem are two techniques the poet uses to convey his message to his audience. He speaks openly and simply, as if he is talking to a close friend. The language is full of slang, two-word sentences, and rambling thoughts; all of which are aspects of conversations between two people who know each other well. The fact that none of the lines ryhme adds to the idea of an ordinary conversation, because most people do not speak in verse. The tone of the poem is rambling and gives the impression that the speaker is thinking and jumping from one thought to the next very quickly. His outside actions of touching the wall and looking at all the names are causing him to react internally. He is remembering the past and is attempting to suppress the emotions that are rising within him.
Allison, Barrows, Blake, et al. eds. The Norton Anthology Of Poetry . 3rd Shorter ed. New York: Norton, 1983. 211.
...s to express their poetry. These poets use different elements of poetry in make their own poems unique. Using specific forms of poetry will make the poem more rhythmic highlighting key aspects of the poem. Snodgrass' decision to use first person narrative brought out the closeness he had with his significant other. In contrast, Olds' choice of third person allows the reader to interpret the poem differently as if it was first person. These perspectives of narration are required to portray different aspects of love in poetry. However, these two poems connect well with one another. Since Olds' writes her poem about how individuals have sex without love. Snodgrass' poem does not see the problem with one-night stands and seems to partake in one of his own. These two poems share a great deal of differences; however, they both express their views on the same theme: love.
The poem's diction immerses the reader into the speaker's fantasy-like realm of love shared with his bride. He begins the poem with the first two lines, "It was many and many a year ago, / In a kingdom by the sea," much like the "once upon a time, in a faraway land" of fairytales. The couple lived with no other thought than to love one another and "loved with a love that was more than love" (9).
Progress is in the eye of the beholder. Throughout the years society has forced nature out of its life and has instead adopted a new mechanical and industrialized lifestyle. Technology may be deemed as progress by some, where it is thought of as a positive advancement for mankind. Yet technology can also be a hindrance for society, by imposing itself on society and emptying the meaning out of life. In “Autobiography at an Air-Station,” Philip Larkin conveys his distaste of how society has denounced nature. By employing an ironic tone in the sonnet, Larkin comments on the significance of the sonnet in relation to industrial life. Life has become ironic because it is no longer a natural life that society leads, but a fabricated life. Through his use of rhyme and meter, the extended metaphor comparing the air-station to life, imagery, and diction, Larkin reflects on what life has come to be: a deviation from the intrinsic.
Webster’s Desk Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Portland House. 1990. Dictionary. Page 602
Webster, Merriam. Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. New deluxe ed. San Diego, California: Thunder Bay Press, 2001. 352, 1884. Print.
... Larkin, Philip. Collected Poems. Victoria: The Marvell Press; London: Faber and Faber, 2003. Print “Philip Larkin”. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. 8 January 2009.
Pearsall J (1999) The Concise Oxford Dictionary Tenth Edition page 286 by Oxford University Press in Oxford New York, America
It can be concluded that the speaker is a caring and loving gentleman. The narrator of the poem is a young gentleman whom can also be perceived as Edgar Allan Poe himself. “That a maiden there lived whom you may know/ By the name of Annabel Lee” (line 3, 4). The poem is about a person loving a woman; therefore it is positively obvious and apparent that the narrator is a gentleman. There are also repetitions of the words “I” and “my” throughout the whole poem, which confirms that the narrator is in fact Edgar Allan Poe himself. “And, so all the night-tide, I lie down by the side/ Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride” (line 38, 39). The use of the words “I” and “my” supports the theory that the person narrating the poem is Edgar Allan Poe. It is also visible that the speaker is very sad and emotional about the loss of his wife. The narrator is having a difficult time getting over the death of Annabel Lee which is apparent in the last stanza. He still sleeps by her even though she is
Overall, the imagery that Plath creates is framed by her diction and is used to convey her emotions toward all relationships and probably even her own marriage to Ted Hughes, who had rude, disorderly habits. Even the structure of the poem is strict in appearance as each stanza ends with a period and consists of exactly six lines. In addition, the persona of the poem is very detached and realistic, so much that it is hard to distinguish between her and Plath, herself. However, Plath insinuates that the woman actually wants love deep down, but finds the complexity and unpredictability of love to be frightening. As a result, she settles for solitude as a defense against her underlying fear.
On the other side, “Love Poem” is very different from the previous poem. This seven stanza poem is based on a man describing the imperfections of his lover. In this, the speaker uses stylistic devices, such as alliteration and personification to impact more on reader, for example as the speaker shows “your lipstick ginning on our coat,”(17) ...
The New International Webster's Pocket Dictionary of the English Language. Naples, FL: Trident International, 2002. Print