This be the verse - Larkin Flashcards
This be the verse - What is it about
Philip Larkin’s poem “This Be The Verse,” published in 1971, is a poignant meditation on the generational transmission of emotional pain and the inescapable influence of familial relationships. The poem captures the complex and often painful interplay between parents and children, suggesting that flaws and emotional complications are passed down from one generation to the next, creating a cycle of misery that seems almost impossible to break.
Themes to talk about
The complexities of human identity: The poem explores the ways in which familial relationships shape our identities, and how our past experiences and relationships can continue to influence us throughout our lives.
The negative impact of familial relationships: The poem argues that parents inevitably pass on their flaws and negative traits to their children, perpetuating a cycle of unhappiness and suffering.
The cycle of pain and suffering –> The poem suggests that negative familial traits and behaviors are passed down through generations, perpetuating a cycle of pain and suffering. Larkin suggests that this cycle can be difficult to break, and that recognizing and addressing these issues is essential to breaking the cycle.
The limitations of free will: The poem suggests that individuals are shaped by their environment and experiences, and that free will is limited by the influence of societal expectations and familial relationships. This theme is reflected in the poem’s opening line, “They f*** you up, your mum and dad.”
“It deepens like a coastal shelf” (when he is talking about how parents give us their problems)
“It deepens like a coastal shelf” (when he is talking about how parents give us their problems) metaphor
“Man hands on misery to man” –> continuous cycle of human nature –> OG sin
suggests a gradual and unstoppable process of erosion and accumulation, where the effects of each successive generation of unhappy families pile up like sediment on a seashore.
suggests that this cycle of misery and suffering is not only ongoing, but that it is also getting worse over time. The image of a coastal shelf, which is a gradual slope that extends from the shore into the ocean, implies that this process of deepening is slow and gradual, but also inevitable and unstoppable.
The parents “may not mean to”
saddle kids with emotional baggage —> most well-intentioned parents can’t help but perpetuate tense dynamics that interfere with their chi
Structure
It could be suggested that there is irony behind what he says
—> Structurally it is a very simple poem with an Iambic tetrameter and ABAB rhyme scheme employed in the poem
—> reminiscent of a nursery rhyme creating an even deeper sense of irony in that a poem with such serious subject matter should be laid out in a structure so appealing to children, the very thing the poem aims to warn against producing
‘They fill you with the faults they had/And add some extra, just for you.’ -> imagery of filling an object
This line from Philip Larkin’s poem “This Be The Verse” suggests that individuals often pass down their negative qualities and flaws to future generations. The imagery of “filling” implies that these negative traits are like a substance that is being poured or stuffed into a container - in this case, a person. The idea is that parents and other influential people in our lives often pass down their own flaws and shortcomings to us, and that these flaws can accumulate over time.
The phrase “add some extra, just for you” suggests that not only do individuals pass down their own flaws, but they also add additional ones specifically tailored to the individual. This may be interpreted as a commentary on how individuals often unconsciously replicate the mistakes and negative behaviors of their parents or other authority figures, and may even exacerbate these issues by adding their own unique problems to the mix.
“Get out as early as you can, and don’t have any kids yourself”
In Philip Larkin’s “This Be The Verse,” the first line “Get out as early as you can” employs enjambment, a literary technique where a sentence or clause is continued onto the next line without a pause. This technique creates a sense of momentum and urgency, indicating that the speaker is keen to convey their message and emphasizing the importance of escaping from negative influences promptly.
The second line, “And don’t have any kids yourself,” utilizes repetition of the word “yourself” at the end of the line to accentuate the idea that individuals should refrain from perpetuating the cycle of negative behavior. This repetition also creates a sense of finality and decisiveness, as if the speaker is issuing a command or directive.
The use of direct address throughout the lines establishes a sense of intimacy and urgency, as if the speaker is communicating directly with the reader and urging them to take action. This approach fosters a feeling of engagement and personal involvement in the message being conveyed, compelling the reader to consider the speaker’s words with seriousness and attentiveness.
‘But they were fucked up in their turn/By fools in old-style hats and coats’:
The use of the phrase “fucked up” creates a stark and provocative tone, as it is a vulgar and colloquial expression that is unexpected in a literary context. This phrase captures the frustration and anger of the speaker towards the preceding generation, as they have been negatively impacted by their predecessors’ mistakes.
The phrase “in their turn” creates a sense of cyclical repetition, emphasizing the idea that negative behaviors and attitudes are often perpetuated across generations. This cyclical nature is further underscored by the use of the word “fools,” which suggests a lack of foresight and wisdom on the part of the preceding generation.
The phrase “old-style hats and coats” employs imagery to conjure an image of outdated and conservative dress, symbolizing the traditional and conservative values that the preceding generation represents. The use of this imagery reinforces the idea that the preceding generation is out of touch and has failed to adapt to changing times.
Overall, these literary techniques work together to create a sense of frustration and anger towards the preceding generation, highlighting the cyclical nature of negative behavior and the need to break free from outdated traditions and values.
