Title of poem creates image of
restriction from the onset, suggesting
this will be an unforgiving poem
about barriers and limitations.
‘Wires’
This poem portrays the themes of limitations and barriers by using the metaphor of cattle entrapped
by wires, to mirror the human experience of limited freedoms. Larkin suggests that we are a society
trapped by rules and limits, and demonstrates how fear prevents humankind from pursuing their
desires. The wires offer no mercy for the cattle in their trial of escape, and though the young steers
are hopeful, the old cattle know from experience that this is a hopeless attempt. Hence, the poem
also discusses the differences between young and old, suggesting that in our youth we think we are
free, but the sooner we realise this is a façade, the less disappointed we will be.
Different themes:
Passage of time
Societal pressure
Desire for escapism and opportunity
Use of place and animals to convey thoughts and emotion
Key poems to link to and why:
Wedding wind- in this poem opportunities that come with marriage seem endless and the
naivety of the wife could mirror that of the young horses.
At grass- description of animals while speaker takes role as voyeur.
Arrivals, Departures- desire to take boat of opportunity but is kept down by society.
Born yesterday- expectations for youth
Contextual links:
Linking to the title of the collection- this is about not being perceived by illusionary
freedoms.
Written after WW2- perhaps after the war many were expecting improvements and an end
to violence, when in reality there was a large continuation.
The cows might be reflective of Larkin personally- he too felt suffocated and limited,
frustrated by his desires to be free.
Larkin’s own desire to live a life unencumbered by attachments to others and societal
pressure.
Key aspects of form and structure:
Two quatrains of iambic pentameter and an enveloping rhyme scheme that reflects just how
the wires encircle the cattle.
Cyclical nature of poem linking back to fences. Last words of first and last line also rhyme to
reinforce this. By the end of the poem however all hope has been lost.
restriction from the onset, suggesting
this will be an unforgiving poem
about barriers and limitations.
‘Wires’
This poem portrays the themes of limitations and barriers by using the metaphor of cattle entrapped
by wires, to mirror the human experience of limited freedoms. Larkin suggests that we are a society
trapped by rules and limits, and demonstrates how fear prevents humankind from pursuing their
desires. The wires offer no mercy for the cattle in their trial of escape, and though the young steers
are hopeful, the old cattle know from experience that this is a hopeless attempt. Hence, the poem
also discusses the differences between young and old, suggesting that in our youth we think we are
free, but the sooner we realise this is a façade, the less disappointed we will be.
Different themes:
Passage of time
Societal pressure
Desire for escapism and opportunity
Use of place and animals to convey thoughts and emotion
Key poems to link to and why:
Wedding wind- in this poem opportunities that come with marriage seem endless and the
naivety of the wife could mirror that of the young horses.
At grass- description of animals while speaker takes role as voyeur.
Arrivals, Departures- desire to take boat of opportunity but is kept down by society.
Born yesterday- expectations for youth
Contextual links:
Linking to the title of the collection- this is about not being perceived by illusionary
freedoms.
Written after WW2- perhaps after the war many were expecting improvements and an end
to violence, when in reality there was a large continuation.
The cows might be reflective of Larkin personally- he too felt suffocated and limited,
frustrated by his desires to be free.
Larkin’s own desire to live a life unencumbered by attachments to others and societal
pressure.
Key aspects of form and structure:
Two quatrains of iambic pentameter and an enveloping rhyme scheme that reflects just how
the wires encircle the cattle.
Cyclical nature of poem linking back to fences. Last words of first and last line also rhyme to
reinforce this. By the end of the poem however all hope has been lost.
