Skin Flashcards
What are the themes in skin?
Time, aging, identity and societal pressure.
What context was happening in the 50s that could be linked to this poem?
There was a rise in consumerism so there was an economic boom.
What context can be linked to Larkin’s preoccupation with death?
The changing British identity of the time - due to loss of power in British empire, after effects of the war and the swinging sixties (rise in hedonism).
What device is used in ‘obedient daily’?
The use of plosives highlight an aggressive pressure to conform to society.
How is the title an extended metaphor?
‘Skin’ represents a literal, physical identity as well as a metaphorical identity - it is an ever present mundane uniform.
What does the personal pronoun of ‘You’ display?
It shows how the speaker is addressing the skin as if it is sentient, perhaps displaying a connection between the skin and its owner.
What context can be linked to ‘unfakable’?
The use of the prefix can be linked to Thomas Hardy and comments on how you cannot mimic youth.
What device is used in ‘you must learn your lines’?
The pun is a reference to the wrinkles you get as you age and how you must accept the process of aging and also the rules of society and the performance you must put on.
What does the enjambment in stanza two show?
It reflects the relentless aging process.
What does ‘You must thicken, work loose’ highlight?
It displays how one must move from grudging rejection to an acceptance of the aging process and become tough in the face of societal expectations.
What can be inferred about ‘old bag’?
The derogating phrase perhaps is saying how when one gets old that they lose value and become out of use as they no longer look how they used to. This can be furthered through the metaphor of ‘soiled name’.
What device is used in ‘Parch then; be roughened; sag;’ ?
The listing emphasizes elements of the aging process and it comments on societies deceived reaction to aging.
What is the speaker apologizing to in ‘pardon me’?
The speaker is apologising to their skin as they have taken their youth for granted or it is an apology to society mockingly for not fulfilling their standards.
What does the final line of ‘till the fashion changes’ show?
It is commenting on beauty standards being something that makes us believe we lose value if we don’t look a certain way.
What is the rhyme scheme?
ABACBC - this irregular rhyme scheme could be commenting on the idea that we learn in life/societal expectations can be challenging and disruptive.
