Philip Larkin

 

Philip Larkin – The Voice of Post-War England

Introduction

Philip Larkin (1922–1985) remains one of England’s most celebrated post-war poets. Known for his stark realism, wry humour, and unflinching gaze at human frailty, Larkin’s poetry captures the essence of mid-20th-century England. Associated with the Movement Poetry school, his works reflect a deep skepticism toward romanticism and modernism, favoring instead clarity, formal precision, and an unadorned style.

---

Philip Larkin: An Introduction

• Full Name: Philip Arthur Larkin
• Birth & Death: Born August 9, 1922, in Coventry; died December 2, 1985.
• Literary Movement: Key figure in Movement Poetry, which rejected modernist obscurity in favor of traditional forms and accessibility.

Major Works:

1. The North Ship (1945) – Early work influenced by Yeats.
2. The Less Deceived (1955) – Established his mature voice.
3. The Whitsun Weddings (1964) – One of his most famous collections.
4. High Windows (1974) – Later reflections on mortality and modernity.

• Awards & Honors: Declined the position of Poet Laureate in 1984, preferring privacy.

Key Themes:

• Disillusionment with modern life
• Mortality and existential dread
• Nostalgia for a vanishing England
• Irony and dark humor

Philip Larkin’s Style

Larkin’s poetry is marked by:

• Conversational Tone: Mimics everyday speech, making his work relatable.
• Formal Precision: Uses traditional rhyme and meter with meticulous care.
• Realism: Focuses on ordinary people and mundane experiences.
• Irony & Understatement: Often masks deep pessimism with dry humor.
• Symbolism & Imagery: Simple yet powerful (e.g., churches, trains, tombs).

Literary Techniques:

• Persona: Adopts the voice of an average Englishman.
• Enjambment & Caesura: Creates natural speech rhythms.
• Paradox: Juxtaposes hope and despair.
• Allusion: References history, religion, and literature subtly.

An Analysis of Larkin’s Major Poems

1. Church Going (1954)

• Theme: The decline of religious faith in post-war England.
• Structure: Seven stanzas, ABABCDCD rhyme scheme.
• Key Lines: "A serious house on serious earth it is, / In whose blent air all our compulsions meet."
• Techniques:

1. Colloquial diction ("brownish now") contrasts with profound meditation.
2. Extended metaphor (church as a symbol of fading tradition).
3. Shifting tone—from irreverence to reluctant reverence.

2. The Whitsun Weddings (1964)

• Theme: Marriage, class, and the passage of time.
• Narrative: A train journey observing newlywed couples.
• Key Lines: "A sense of falling, like an arrow-shower / Sent out of sight, somewhere becoming rain."
• Techniques:

1. Shifting perspective (detached observer → participant).
2. Irony (mockery of weddings turning into acceptance).
3. Vivid imagery (countryside vs. industrial England).

3. An Arundel Tomb (1956)

• Theme: Love, mortality, and the passage of time.
• Inspiration: A medieval tomb of an earl and countess holding hands.
• Key Lines: "What will survive of us is love."
• Techniques:

1. Paradox (love endures, yet the tomb decays).
2. Irony (sculptor’s "commissioned grace" mistaken for eternal love).

4. Going, Going (1972)

• Theme: Environmental decay and the loss of rural England.
• Tone: Nostalgic, elegiac.
• Key Lines: "And that will be England gone, / The shadows, the meadows, the lanes."
• Techniques:

1. Apocalyptic imagery (concrete replacing nature).
2. Colloquial yet prophetic voice.

5. Aubade (1977)

• Theme: Fear of death and existential dread.
• Form: A morning poem (aubade) subverted into a meditation on mortality.
• Key Lines: "The mind blanks at the glare. Not in remorse… / But well at what will be."
• Techniques:

1. Direct, prosaic language (avoids poetic embellishment).
2. Repetition ("unresting death") for emphasis.

6. Mr. Bleaney (1955)

• Theme: Loneliness and the monotony of modern life.
• Narrative: A tenant reflects on the previous occupant’s bleak existence.
• Key Lines: "That how we live measures our own nature."
• Techniques:

1. Minimalist description (sparse room = sparse life).
2. Self-reflective ending ("I don’t know").

Movement Poetry

• Definition: A 1950s literary movement rejecting modernism’s complexity.
• Key Poets: Larkin, Kingsley Amis, Thom Gunn, Elizabeth Jennings.
• Characteristics:

1. Clarity and formal structure.
2. Anti-romantic, ironic tone.
3. Focus on everyday experiences.

• Anthologies: New Lines (1956), Poets of the 1950s (1955).

Larkin’s Legacy

• Influence: Shaped post-war British poetry with his accessible yet profound style.
• Criticism: Some accuse him of pessimism and conservatism.
• Enduring Appeal: His honesty about human fragility resonates across generations.

"Larkin cast himself as a resolutely ordinary and unpretentious poet." — Andrew Gibson

Philip Larkin’s work remains a cornerstone of 20th-century poetry, blending technical mastery with raw emotional truth. Whether mourning lost England or confronting death, his voice—wry, melancholic, and deeply human—continues to captivate readers.