Wires, Maiden Name and Toads

Question 1

‘Why should I let the toad work __________ on my life’

Answer 1

squat

Question 2

Towards the end of Toads, the speaker realises that ‘something sufficiently ‘________ - _________ squats in me’

Answer 2

toad - like

Question 3

‘The ________ and the __________ and the _________’ (Toads)

Answer 3

fame/girl/money

Question 4

After WWII, food rationing was still in place until…?

Answer 4

1954

Question 5

What did the Labour government create in 1948 that was seen, by some, as a positive symbol of social progress?

Answer 5

the NHS

Question 6

In what year was the NHS created?

Answer 6

1948

Question 7

‘The ____________ prairies have electric fences’ (Wires)

Answer 7

widest

Question 8

‘Young steers are always scenting ___________ / ___________ ‘ (Wires)

Answer 8

purer water

Question 9

In Wires, which verb (beginning with ‘b’) describes the clumsy movement of the ignorant ‘young steers’?

Answer 9

blunder

Question 10

Does Wires use a regular rhyme scheme?

Answer 10

Yes. ABCD DCBA (this can also be referred to as an ‘envelope’ rhyme scheme)

Question 11

What did Larkin say of marriage (referring to his parents’ marriage): ‘the only married state I know is ___________ / ___________’

Answer 11

bloody hell

Question 12

‘Marrying left your maiden name ___________.’ (Maiden Name)

Answer 12

disused

Question 13

‘since you were so thankfully confused by ____________ ‘ (Maiden Name)

Answer 13

law

Question 14

In Maiden Name, how is the newly married women described - ‘scentless, weightless, ________________?

Answer 14

strengthless

Question 15

‘old lists, old programmes, a __________ / _____________ or two’ (Maiden Name)

Answer 15

school prize

Question 16

‘with your _________ / ___________ / ____________ ‘ (Maiden Name)

Answer 16

depreciating luggage laden