afternoon Flashcards
what does The title “Afternoons” suggest
suggests the end of the day and time passing.
what is the tone
wistful
what is the sense in the poem and what is the quote to support that
the poem has a sense of longing for the past – “summer is fading.”
what does The language suggests “young mothers” – “hollow” and “assemble” suggest
suggest routine and boredom creating a sense of emptiness.
what does “their beauty has thickened” suggests
.
suggests ageing.
what does the last line “to the side of their own lives” echoes the idea of what
“setting free their children” from the first stanza.
what does Philip Larkin’s poetry celebrate
celebrates the ordinary details of day to day life
did larkin have a wife? did he have kids? did he ever leave the UK
Larkin never married, had children or even left the UK in his whole life
what does the first stanza deal with
The first stanza deals with Larkin’s rather cynical view of marriage and deals with the idea that the
young mothers are isolated.
what does larkin use of language emphasise
Larkin’s use of language emphasis the recurring theme of emptiness within the young mothers and how regimented their lives have become.
what does larkin describe in stanza two
describes the mothers as being alone with little support from their working husbands.
what does larkin focus on in the third stanza and why
In the third stanza Larkin focuses back onto the children and how because of them the mothers are
unable to live their own lives and they are merely looking in. Their dreams, aspirations and needs
have been put to the side.
what are the 3 poems and themes this poem can be compared to
Time passing – To Autumn and As Imperceptibly as Grief
Loss of innocence/growing up – Death of a Naturalist
