Advantages: Profound but down to Earth - a poetic genius... Disadvantages: You'll either love him or hate him!
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 ...
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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 ...
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Advantages: Stunning, meaningful poetry Disadvantages: Too small a book!
...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 ...
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Advantages: Realist and humourous Disadvantages: Some may be offended by his sexism
...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, ...
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very helpful
05.10.2001
Curmudgeon Review ofThe Whitsun Weddings - Philip Larkinby
gunmenoftheapocalypse
Advantages: Believable criticisms of life, well written Disadvantages: Not particularly interesting, dull and depressing to read.
...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. ...
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Advantages: thought provoking, easy to read. Disadvantages: highly pessimistic so don't expect laughs.
...poems. I 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 ...
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helpful
21.05.2004
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