facts Flashcards
what did larkin say in his diary about marriage?
‘let me remember the only married state I know is bloody hell’.
What was Larkin’s view on the post-WWII marriage boom?
Larkin believed those who married post-WWII did so for legal purposes and convenience rather than love
Larkin had a cynical view of this behavior.
How did Larkin’s parents’ marriage influence him?
Larkin’s parents endured a difficult marriage, which he keenly felt
This experience is explored in his poem ‘This Be The Verse’.
What is a notable line from Larkin’s poem ‘This Be The Verse’?
‘They fuck you up, your mum and dad.’
Did Larkin ever marry or have children?
No, Larkin never married or had children
He commented in his diary about marriage being ‘bloody hell’.
What term did Larkin use to describe his own literary work?
‘Sad-eyed realism’
This term refers to poetry depicting the pain, uncertainty, and compromise of everyday life.
when did larkin write places, loved ones?
in 1954 after making the decision to move from Belfast to Hull. Like the speaker, he had no solid sense of home at the time.
how many times did larkin move 1943-1955?
Larkin moved home 5 times between 1943 and 1955 (Oxford, Wellington, Leicester, Belfast and Hull).
who was larkin’s first relationship with?
Ruth Bowman – they were briefly engaged but this was broken off when he moved to Belfast.
who was larkin’s longest relationship with?
Monica Jones, which spanned nearly 40 years from 1946-1985 – when Larkin died. He never married.
how is thomas hardy linked to coming?
Larkin alludes to the Darkling Thrush; here, the idea of hope is presented, but from an unknown source, or something that is not understood: ‘some blessed Hope, whereof he knew / And I was unaware’
give a quote from the darkling thrush
‘some blessed Hope, whereof he knew / And I was unaware’
how did larkin reject romanticism?
- Larkin interpreted modern reality with a realistic, clear, colloquial style that discarded both Romanticism and Modernism. This gives Larkin’s poetry a kind of simplicity and accessibility.
- In Romantic poetry, the poet engages in a deep philosophising over the soul and sublime landscapes. Larkin’s poetry is also personal, but he never highlights a sage-like wisdom in the speaker.
how did larkin react to being offered the status of poet laureate
said to Kingsley Amis, ‘I wake up screaming’
what was the movement and what did they believe/write about
- The Movement rejected experimental modernism which they saw as pretentious and disconnected from everyday reality.
- Their work was unsentimental, rational, and rooted in a nostalgic idea of English identity, and they favoured poetry that used traditional forms and structures
- Larkin’s poetry conveys the quality of ordinary life; dreary routine existence, dissatisfaction, dreams and ideals beyond the grasp of the common man, occasionally ‘surprised’ by happiness; portrays life as meagre, disappointing
why did larkin have a pre occupation with death
Larkin’s poems were written in the shadow of WWII – an event which led to a significant loss of life – and just before The Cold War, when nuclear testing was becoming more common – foreshadowing further loss of life. This helps to explain Larkin’s focus on death and mortality in various poems from The Less Deceived.
how did Mid-Century Expectations & 1950s consumer culture affect larkin’s poetry
- The changing landscape of world politics and Britain’s difficult financial position meant that the British empire was slowly being dismantled. This led to a change in Britain’s national identity as it became much less influential
- People also felt a renewed sense of optimism, seeing the post-war period as a chance to start again and make Britain a more equal country; perhaps this led Larkin to think people were always expecting too much of the future and not facing the current realities
- painful austerity of post-war years, made worse by contemporary hopes for a rapid transformation and opening-up of a stagnant society that were never met in full measure
- The influence of the ideology of the American Dream also started to influence British thinking and culture
- Larkin transparently belongs to a generation who hoped for much after the war, and were disappointed; his disappointment did not make him angry, but contributed to a strong but gentle irony; any ideal exists only to be betrayed, and therefore perhaps it is better not to have ideals at all
when were larkin’s poems published
Larkin only published three main volumes of poetry during his lifetime: The Less Deceived (1955), The Whitsun Weddings (1964), and High Windows (1974)
what was larkin’s nickname?
the hermit of hull
what award was larkin given
a CBE for his contribution to literature
what was larkin’s relationship to winifred arnott
Much to Larkin’s disappointment, his relationship with Winifred Arnott was never romantic - she later became engaged to another man.
who was sally amis
Larkin and Amis met at St John’s College, Oxford, and became life long friends. Larkin dedicates his poem ‘Born Yesterday’ to Amis’ daughter, Sally.
what was larkin’s opinion of time
kLarkin once said time ‘erodes, spoils and disappoints’, a sentiment which is clearly portrayed in Larkin’s exploration of the transformative influence of time in No Road.
describe larkin’s relationship with ruth bowman
Larkin had several relationships with women throughout his life. Larkin’s first relationship was with Ruth Bowman. Larkin and Bowman were briefly engaged, but this was broken off when he moved to Belfast in 1950.
