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Philip Larkin was an English poet and one of the most acclaimed poets of the latter half of the 20th century. He attended Oxford, then studied professionally to become a librarian, a career he would retain even as he grew famous for his poetry. His body of work totaled only about pages, a small size, but he nonetheless attained critical acclaim. Larkin had a reputation for being grumpy and glum, and many of his poems deal with sad themes. In , he was offered the position of Poet Laureate, but he declined to take it. In a Poetry Book Society survey, Larkin was named Britain's best-loved poet of the last 50 years.
Study Guides on Works by Philip Larkin
An Arundel TombPhilip Larkin
Written around , “An Arundel Tomb” was published in Larkin’s collection The Whitsun Weddings and is one of his most famous poems. The book was a commercial success by poetry standards. In the poem, the speaker is inspired by seeing a pair
AubadePhilip Larkin
An aubade is a poem traditionally set at dawn or early morning, and typically about parting lovers. This “Aubade” doesn’t involve love, however, despi
Philip Larkin
Early Life
Philip Arthur Larkin was born on the 9th of August in in Radford, England. He was a fortunate child of Sydney Larkin, a Coventry City treasure, and his mother, Eva Emily Larkin. His early years were cloaked with the dominance of his father, which never let him enjoy the true entertainments of the childhood period. However, Sydney’s love for poetry influenced his son during his childhood. His father died in , and his mother died in
Education
Philip Larkin, a prolific literary figure, was homeschooled up to the age of eight. His well-read father introduced him to many great literary figures, including James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and D. H. Lawrence. Besides this, his mother and sister also helped him develop his creative abilities during his childhood until he was sent to Coventry’s King Henry VIII Junior School followed by King Henry VIII Senior School. He made regular contributions to the school magazine, The Coventrian. At eighteen, he passed the entrance exam of St John’s College, Oxford, and started studying English. Later, in , he joined the Oxford University and earned a first-class honored degree. Later, he became a successful librarian, but nev
PHILIP LARKIN
BIOGRAPHY
Philip Arthur Larkin was born on August 9, , in Coventry. He was the second child, and only son, of Sydney and Eva Larkin. Sydney Larkin was City Treasurer between the years 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 and , and made regular contributions to the school magazine, The Coventrian, which, between and , 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 with 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, Then in June , three of his poems were published in Oxford Poetry () . 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
‘I don’t want to transcend the commonplace…I lead a very commonplace life. Everyday things are lovely to me.’ (Larkin, )
Britain Post-WWII
• Prevalence of death and feelings of loss within communities after the end of the War greater optimism towards the future and hope for a better world.
• Rationing until austerity part of life.
• Introduction of the Welfare State- Larkin referred to himself as a ‘Welfare State poet’.
• Increasing urbanisation. Creation of new industrial centres due to the New Towns Act of
• There was pollution and smog in urban areas. The London smog of lasted five days and killed more than 4, people.
• In , the United Kingdom accounted for a quarter of world trade in manufactures. Britain was the foremost world producer of ships and the leading European producer of coal, steel, cars and textiles.
• Public attitudes towards sex and marriage were still conservative. Victorian attitudes towards prostitution and femininity are explored within ‘Deceptions’ in comparison to the views of s/50s.
• Traditional and disciplined attitude within society, especially regarding family life. Larkin frequently places himself in opposition to this.
• Changing attitude to
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