The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

Philip Larkin, an insight into the genius, the poet, the man… I have to admit that when I first started to study Larkin for my A – levels, it was difficult not to curse him, let alone like him! On the surface, Larkin appears to be a misogynistic and sexist man with a supercilious eye for anything lower class. This, unfortunately has become the most popular attitude towards Larkin, however, I feel that this is not the case. After having studied only ...
...you must go deeper than the words on the page in order to understand this mysterious but incredible writer, and that is what I intend to help people to do… General Background: Philip Larkin was born in 1922 in Coventry. He grew up there and went to read English at Oxford University. For the remaining thirty years of his life, Larkin lived in Hull where he became the librarian at the city’s university, until his death in 1985. Personal Background: ...

clairearnold 09.08.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

Why read poetry? It's hardly the most popular art form; most of us prefer to escape into a film, a soap or fantasy fiction. To be honest, I don't often read it myself. One or two poets, though, keep me coming back. Philip Larkin is one of them. I know he's unfashionable. His views on politics and women were not the most enlightened. His image was miserly, xenophobic and antisocial. His poems were firmly set in the world of buses, billboards, bedsits ...
...echo in my mind. And the solitary, gloomy persona in his poems was not, by all accounts, the irreverent, sociable man he was in reality. To add to these contradictions, I'd suggest that by dwelling on the mundane and the everyday, he revealed essential truths about life, the universe and everything. His poems offer little in the way of comfort or escape from the dreary realities of life. He confronts and exposes the deceptions behind the gloss, ...

Silverback 30.04.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

...and his collection of verse,' The Whitsun Weddings' I owe to my friend David Evennett, one-time Member of Parliament for Erith and Crayford. Back when I was researcher for a Member of Parliament, I had an avocation as a poet, and had just published my first book of poetry. David discovered this, and recommended Larkin as a poetic voice worthy of attention. (His researcher acted surprised, blurting out loud much to our amusement, 'And here I always ...
...been reprinted four times during the 1970s, four times during the 1980s, and continues to be reprinted periodically up to the present day. John Betjeman, one-time poet laureate of England, once commented of Larkin that 'this tenderly observant poet writes clearly, rhythmically, and thoughtfully about what all of us can understand.' This is the key to Larkin's verse -- accessibility. There are no obvious poetical devices that overpower the meaning ...

frkurt 07.06.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

...studying English Literature at A’Level. The Whitsun Weddings was the start of a beautiful friendship with his wit, cynicism and downright sexist attitude. Despite my ‘feminist’ leanings and the fact that if any man were to comment on any inferiority I had as a woman, they would no longer be able to father children, Larkin made me laugh. Larkin quite simply mocked his own failings and anything, which he does insinuate in his poetry, ...
...his reclusive nature was nicknamed the ‘Hermit of Hull’. After seeing a photograph of him in an article I read sometime ago (Large black-rimmed glasses, an ‘egg’ shaped bald head – think Penfold from Dangermouse) and reading his poetry, you have the impression of a sad old man who was never totally at ease with himself. Who wanted life to be exciting but never knew how to make it such. And so to Larkin’s poetry… ...

HappyBunny 05.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

...commentaries on British life in the 20th century. It's not surprising that I didn't enjoy reading one of Larkin's most famous anthologies, "the Whitsun Weddings." The only reason I became exposed to this poet and this collection was through my A-level English Literature, and along with my Louis XIV topic in History it was one of the rare occasions when I've felt pushed to succeed at an examination simply so I can forget all about it for alway. However, ...
...certainly has a grasp of the poetic device and of the worse aspects of life. On reading this, one may wonder whether the term 'curmudgeon' was invented with this man in mind; it is a very fun word though. This collection, which is all I have read or will hopefully read, deals with a number of issues, although the main theme is of love and relationships. on examining it in detail, I discovered that that poems "Love Songs in Age," examining how the ...

gunmenoftheapocalypse 15.12.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

...disagree. A lot of the poems are actually very philiosophical and I urge everyone to read this particular anthology which is called "The Whitsun Weddings," named after a poem in the anothology itself. The collection is one of three main anothology's and is highly rated amongst the best. The "Times Literary Supplement" think it isa worthwhile read also. It is a set text on the WJEC A level board so is a book of high reputation amongst the exam boards. ...
...Life and Death The idea of death and what is the meaning of us being hear always appears in Larkin's strictly Atheist ideas and provides an interesting outlook, if not a little downbeat. "Ambulances" can be read in order to get a full idea of his views on this subject. "The fastened doors recede. 'Poor soul', They whisper at their own distress." This pessimistic line shows how selfish people are. Even though the fastened doors are taking someone ...

Joeyjoe 21.05.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin

...poems is dark, dark to the core in fact! However, this does not mean that there is not a good read to be had. In fact, I think that if you like TV shows like Grumpy Old Men or Women, then you would love this collection. I am not saying that I agree with Larkin's views, however, I am aknowledging his wonderful ability to be so unbelievably cynical about the world he found himself in. He is the only man capable of linking an abulance, in the most negative ...
...good old fashioned moan about the world, something we all enjoy, and therefore is a fantastic read! Although this is a brilliant collection of poems, if you are not into analysis of words, connotations and meanings then this anthology might not be for you. There is much debate as to what Larkin was trying to achieve through this anthology and therefore there are multiple meanings throughout. If you like to delve deep into the structure and word choice ...

ewaller 06.05.2009 (13.08.2009) · Read full review
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Review of The Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkin