Larkin's early life 1950s Britain
-Born and raised in Coventry -The Less Deceived was published in 1955.- when rationing
-Larkin referred to himself as a ‘Welfare State poet’. Welfare
Larkin’s father was politically active and the dominant, and a
measures such as NHS in 1948, revolutionary but also unrel
Nazi-sympathiser. struggled to prioritise it in tax money
-Larkin's father isnpired his love for jazz and encouraged Larkin's -Lack of hope post-war meaning more and more people bec
atheism -Men coming back from war meant that women were in mor
-Mother, very passive in the marriage.. Larkin resented her roles.
Larkin's mother described him as angry "burning bush of fury in -more on consumerism, rise in supermarkets, televisions, po
rock and roll.
his chest"
-London's great smog of 1952, followed by Clean Air Act 195
-Larkin took financial responsibility of her for 30 years, they grew -Winston Churchill resignation in 1955, taken over by Antho
closer after death of father for 2 years as he resigned in 1957- political instability
-caused his distrust of marriage, Larkins emotions towards his
Literary context
parents swung from boredom to hate Larkin's life and attitudes
Religion- had an appreciation for it in a cultural sense, for ex
The Movement- Rejects elaborate imagery, return to traditional form unlike Described the Bible as "beautiful balls", conveying his appre
Modernism, lived experience of a poet and applying it to other's lives. Larkin the fact that it was meaningless to him
prefers conventional meter, uses ordinary details "cycle clips" Church Going Work- Studied at Oxford because he couldn't join Army Larki
The Movement mixes rationality of emotions with feeling, conflict between Civil Service and Foreign Office. Wrote 2 novels that were w
objective control and subjective abandon- reflected in Larkin's restraint and could not write a 3rd. Realised he could not make a living off
realism. Also, precision of emotion was essential inspiring "Toads".
Thomas Hardy, an influence- he did not exaggerate his life, Hardy writes Moved around for librarian work- Shropshire-Dec 1943, 1946
about subjects of men, passing of time, love 1950-Belfast, finally settled in Hull for 30 years, 5 times in 1
Larkin is an aesthete- seen in Church Going and Reasons for Attendance as Places, Loved Ones, where he could write poetry- also had a
he prioritises art. photography as a hobby
Admired French Symbolism- Absences, but generally was ignorant about Relationships- Insecurity about himself, adopted a distinct d
foreign literature, compensate
The Less Deceived- was originally the title of Deceptions, so perhaps The Less Deceived is dedicated to Monica Jones, but explore
Deceptions is the central poem. Could be Absences, as a potential name with Ruth Bowman and Winifred Arnott
was "Such Absences" Poems reflecting on Ruth Bowman- "No Road", tries to rekin
Hamlet and Ophelia allusion- about love, Ophelia saying she was "the more with her, Wedding Wind- Larkin's own fears of commitment,
deceived." but Larkin, being "less deceived", he knows more about life than relationship survived the move to Leicester
the average person Larkin thinks about "sad eyed realism" Winifred Arnott- Lines, Latest Face, Maiden name (they neve
Intertexutality- Skin, "As you Like It"- "All the world's a stage" relationship)
"Lines- Ode on a Grecian Urn, tripartite structure. -afraid of marriage, was vey objectifying towards women, di
Hardy and Robert Browning using the thrush as a symbol of hope- Coming "largely pornographic"
Dry Point- engagement to Ruth fallen through, gave up on n
death
-Born and raised in Coventry -The Less Deceived was published in 1955.- when rationing
-Larkin referred to himself as a ‘Welfare State poet’. Welfare
Larkin’s father was politically active and the dominant, and a
measures such as NHS in 1948, revolutionary but also unrel
Nazi-sympathiser. struggled to prioritise it in tax money
-Larkin's father isnpired his love for jazz and encouraged Larkin's -Lack of hope post-war meaning more and more people bec
atheism -Men coming back from war meant that women were in mor
-Mother, very passive in the marriage.. Larkin resented her roles.
Larkin's mother described him as angry "burning bush of fury in -more on consumerism, rise in supermarkets, televisions, po
rock and roll.
his chest"
-London's great smog of 1952, followed by Clean Air Act 195
-Larkin took financial responsibility of her for 30 years, they grew -Winston Churchill resignation in 1955, taken over by Antho
closer after death of father for 2 years as he resigned in 1957- political instability
-caused his distrust of marriage, Larkins emotions towards his
Literary context
parents swung from boredom to hate Larkin's life and attitudes
Religion- had an appreciation for it in a cultural sense, for ex
The Movement- Rejects elaborate imagery, return to traditional form unlike Described the Bible as "beautiful balls", conveying his appre
Modernism, lived experience of a poet and applying it to other's lives. Larkin the fact that it was meaningless to him
prefers conventional meter, uses ordinary details "cycle clips" Church Going Work- Studied at Oxford because he couldn't join Army Larki
The Movement mixes rationality of emotions with feeling, conflict between Civil Service and Foreign Office. Wrote 2 novels that were w
objective control and subjective abandon- reflected in Larkin's restraint and could not write a 3rd. Realised he could not make a living off
realism. Also, precision of emotion was essential inspiring "Toads".
Thomas Hardy, an influence- he did not exaggerate his life, Hardy writes Moved around for librarian work- Shropshire-Dec 1943, 1946
about subjects of men, passing of time, love 1950-Belfast, finally settled in Hull for 30 years, 5 times in 1
Larkin is an aesthete- seen in Church Going and Reasons for Attendance as Places, Loved Ones, where he could write poetry- also had a
he prioritises art. photography as a hobby
Admired French Symbolism- Absences, but generally was ignorant about Relationships- Insecurity about himself, adopted a distinct d
foreign literature, compensate
The Less Deceived- was originally the title of Deceptions, so perhaps The Less Deceived is dedicated to Monica Jones, but explore
Deceptions is the central poem. Could be Absences, as a potential name with Ruth Bowman and Winifred Arnott
was "Such Absences" Poems reflecting on Ruth Bowman- "No Road", tries to rekin
Hamlet and Ophelia allusion- about love, Ophelia saying she was "the more with her, Wedding Wind- Larkin's own fears of commitment,
deceived." but Larkin, being "less deceived", he knows more about life than relationship survived the move to Leicester
the average person Larkin thinks about "sad eyed realism" Winifred Arnott- Lines, Latest Face, Maiden name (they neve
Intertexutality- Skin, "As you Like It"- "All the world's a stage" relationship)
"Lines- Ode on a Grecian Urn, tripartite structure. -afraid of marriage, was vey objectifying towards women, di
Hardy and Robert Browning using the thrush as a symbol of hope- Coming "largely pornographic"
Dry Point- engagement to Ruth fallen through, gave up on n
death
