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Afternoons critic analysis philip larkin
Afternoons philip larkin analysis
Afternoons philip larkin analysis
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Mordant, morbid, and withdrawn, esteemed British poet, Philip Arthur Larkin manifests all extremes: from an Oxford alumnus to a jazz music junky, from a witty poet and novelist to the chief administrator of the Hull University library. As an English poet, novelist, and jazz critic, Larkin is well-known for his vulgar and explicit language, and candid point of view. Although his cynical tone is persistent throughout his writings, Larkin brings a tempering element to his melancholic writing: humor. He uses eccentric metaphors, controversial topics, and frank language. Despite the controversy of his writings, Larkin remains one of Britain's most popular poets. Larkin’s influence on contemporary poets continues to expand, and his poems and works are still cherished and discussed.
Before Philip Larkin’s became infamous for his crude writing style, he started out as an adolescent writer for his school newspaper. Born on August 9, 1922, in Coventry, England, Larkin attended King Henry VIII School between years 1930 and 1940. He wrote and edited articles for the school magazine, The Coventrian. Before entering college, some of Larkin’s poetry caught eye and became published in 1940. Continuing his love for writing, Larkin went to St. John’s College, Oxford, and graduated with First Class Honors in English in 1943. His love for reading and writing triggered a burning passion in Larkin that lasted his entire life. After graduation, Larkin was immediately appointed Librarian at Wellington, Shropshire; where he studied to become a professional librarian. Although he was extremely busy with his job and his studies, Larkin continued to write and publish poetry and novels.
Larkin’s first work of poetry called The North Ship, including ten poe...
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... ed. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1990. Print.
Schmidt, Michael. Lives of the Poets. New York: Vintage, 2000. Print.
Self, Cameron . "Larkin." Poets Graves. UK Web.Solutions Direct, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. .
Steele, Timothy. "A Brief Guide to New Formalism - Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More." Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2010. .
"::: THE PHILIP LARKIN SOCIETY - HOME PAGE :::." ::: THE PHILIP LARKIN SOCIETY - HOME PAGE :::. The Estate of Philip Larkin, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. .
Wetzsteon, Rachel. "Philip Larkin and Happiness." Contemporary Poetry Review: Resuscitating Poetry Criticism. Program of the American Poetry Fund, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. .
One of the many ways Larkin portrays the message of influence is by using multiple tenses throughout the poem. The first stanza is very relatable to the immediate audience, and this is because the first stanza is written in present tense. The present tense looks directly into the life of the reader, which gives the poem an overall captivating aspect. By starting off with, “They fuck you up, your mum and dad.” Larkin is looking at the present day life of his
Confrontation, avoided by all, unpredictably leads to negative consequent and sacrifices. Ellen DeGeneres and Jay Leno are two celebrities iconicity known for using drollery to express personal preferences. Unfortunately, this style would be regarded as humor without validation if it was not for the authors before paving the way for waggery. Ogden Nash, a highly respected poet, established an new form of light verse impacting both literature and society.
Michael Gray’s analysis of Dylan’s lyrics being a contrast between hackneyed expressions and “beautifully done” are exemplified in the song “Just Like a Woman.” Dylan’s lyrics “she aches just like a woman but she breaks just like a little girl” is given the harsh description of “maudlin platitude” and deemed to be a “non-statement.” If Dylan’s lyrics cannot uphold against meaningful music of the same category, how can they be expected to stand against literature written for a different field. John Lennon had his own critiques of Dylan’s works, calling out how the abstract nature of his lyrics, having loose definition, never achieved an actual point. Lennon’s definition of “poetry” referred to “stick[ing] a few images together” and “thread[ing] them” in order to create something meaningful. It once again boils down to the fact that Dylan’s music that was written and intended to be received as a live performance. The acknowledgement that “…you have to hear Dylan doing it” is a recognition of his composition’s failure to come across as a normal literary work. It’s all part of a “good game.” This in itself should disqualify Dylan as a possible candidate for the Nobel Prize.
A few cases in which this poem is particularly relevant in today’s society, apart from just the general hipster culture, is the fact that in many ways we’re faced with similar issues of social oppression of certain sects of the population, homophobia, discord amongst different cultures and excessive consumerism – all these being matters than Ginsberg felt strongly about and sought to fight against.
Meinke, Peter. “Untitled” Poetry: An Introduction. Ed. Michael Meyer. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s 2010. 89. Print
Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology. 3rd ed. Ed. Helen Vendler. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s,
Before discussion of these poems can truly begin, some background information of each other is necessary to understand why they have written their respective poems and maybe shed some light onto why they have taken certain positions on each of the three topics. Considered one of the greatest English poets of all time, Philip Larkin gradua...
In this essay I will compare and contrast a collection of different poems by Carol Anne Duffy, Robert Browning, Ben Johnson and Simon Armitage.
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’.
Strand, Mark and Evan Boland. The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms. New
With reference to three poems studied so far discuss how Larkin presents the theme of illusion and reality.
Allison, Barrows, Blake, et al. eds. The Norton Anthology Of Poetry . 3rd Shorter ed. New York: Norton, 1983. 211.
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.
Holbrook, David. Llareggub Revisted: Dylan Thomas and the State of Modern Poetry. Cambridge: Bowes and Bowes, 1965. 100-101.
For this assignment, I have decided to write about a famous poem of Billy Collins which is titled as ‘Introduction to Poetry’ written in 1996.