afternoons Flashcards
1
Q
overview
A
In Afternoons, Larkin shows how suddenly change happens and how quickly you can be forgotten. In the poem the mothers quickly have to leave their past behind and their lives become monotonous and boring. It is a depressing poem which is typical of Larkin. He often wrote about ordinary subjects and here an everyday situation is shown. Like many of his poems Larkin is a detached observer so the reader never knows the true feelings of the women which helps to create the feeling of isolation. This helps reflect the distance between the young mothers and their old lives.
2
Q
beginning
A
- At the beginning of the poem, Larkin says ‘summer is fading.’ This could have a literal meaning of the seasons changing and everything getting colder or it could have a metaphorical meaning which suggests how the fun part of the young mothers life is fading because summer is often associated with freedom and fun.
- The young mothers are in the ‘new recreation ground.’ However, in this poem ‘new’ is not a positive thing but a negative thing because it is not for them but for the children. This suggests how society is forgetting about them because they are no longer being cared for .
- In the ‘hollows of the afternoons young mothers assemble.’ The ‘hollows’ of the afternoon is the women’s freetime however they don’t enjoy it because they have assembled. The word ‘assemble’ suggests how they consider it a chore but they take their children to the park to fill the empty space in the day even though it is unfulfilling.
3
Q
middle
A
- Larkin helps to show how the mothers lives has changed through the contrast of the ‘estateful of washing’ and the wedding album. The wedding suggests their past lives which would be exciting because weddings are often grand and memorable events that are greatly looked forward to. However, now that the wedding is over they are left with an ‘estateful of washing’ which symbolises how they are left with lots of responsibility.
4
Q
end
A
- Larkin describes how their ‘beauty has thickened’ which could suggest how as they age they are becoming less beautiful. However, it could also link to how summer is fading which once again emphasises how the enjoyable part of their life is over and replaced with a repetitive routine.
- Finally, Larkin describes how ‘something is pushing them to the side of their own lives.’ This suggests how they don’t prioritise themselves or care for themselves so they are no longer living their own life. Instead, they are only a mother who’s sole job is to be a good housewife and mother. The fact that the word ‘something’ is used is significant because it’s so vague so if the mothers cannot identify what is wrong then they cant fix it.
5
Q
form & structure
A
- There are three equal stanzas which reflects the regularity of the women’s lives.
- The language that is used is boring and repetitive which suggests the routine and boring lives of the women.
- There is lots of sibilance so their life is repeated
