AS English Literature- Duffy and Larkin

Synopsis= The poem regards the temporary nature of pets and the devaluation of life by children perhaps due to their inexperience with death. It is whether or not the parents are to blame in buying the pet for the children perhaps regarding working class negligence. Larkin appears to subvert the usual attitudes towards the innocence of children as he bands children as heartless and violent.  Key Quotations + Analysis  1.) "Take on home for the kiddies" "Take"= suggests the unnatural action of ownership over pets and the willingness people have to remove them from their natural habitat "One" furthers the ideals of lacking individuality as the poem never specifies the animal showing the lack of importance branded to the pets "Kiddies" suggests the commercialisation of life not only the lives of children but also of their pets.  2.) "Mam get us one of them" Colloquial language, Larkins use of the colloquial "mam" co...

Synopsis= Larkin begins this poem with an intimate moment between a couple that is talking in bed, and this moment is carried through the entire poem to highlight that even in our most intimate moments we can feel isolated and lonely. Events such as talking in bed only makes an individual blatantly aware of our solitude and insignificance in such a vast world. Key Quotations + Analysis 1.) "Talking in bed ought to be easiest" The opening line of the poem may mark the realisation of the speakers loneliness, it is only when they are in such an intimate moment that they realise how isolated they are from the rest of the world. "ought" is an expression of doubt, this connotes that the speaker is confused by their conflicting emotions, they perhaps feel as if their conversations should flow easily but their realisation is blocking them from being so intimate. It could also highlight that perhaps the couple have grown apart over time and gradually they have ran ou...

Synopsis= In this poem, the speaker is lodging in a room that once belonged to a gentleman named Mr Bleaney. When observing this room that he lived his entire life in, it seems that the speaker is adopting more and more similar characteristics to Mr Bleaney himself. It is interesting to consider whether the details of Mr Bleaneys life is a product of the narrators imagination or are they true, factual details? Key Quotations + Analysis  1.) "One hired box" Here the reference to a box could allude to a coffin, insinuating that Mr Bleaney died in the room which accentuates his loneliness and solitude, in addition it could also imply that all of Mr Bleaneys possessions could fit into one box, this connotes that he may have lived in poverty and therefore had very few possessions to his name Context= in this poem there is reference to "the bodies", this refers to a periods in the 40's where there was a manufacturing boom in the Midlands, which could be an expl...

Synopsis=  In Dockery and Son, Larkin takes a step back and reflects on his life, in particularly his life in the past. It is also clearly highlighting in this poem the obvious lack of offspring that Larkin has in his life, accompanied with the absence of marriage too, and Larkin is perhaps showing through language how far he differs from the pre programmed idealism that many people (such as Dockery) follow through life, which is traditionally marriage followed by children.  Key Quotations + Analysis  1.) "death-suited"  This has many connotations, it could initially imply that the death of his lineage is soon approaching, as he doesn't have a child to pursue it. It could also allude to Larkins feelings of the past, Larkins past is dead to him as he hasn't achieved the traditional idealism of having children.  Suited= the sombre life that Larkin has chosen to not follow this traditional path is suited to him.  Perhaps he is "death suited" as he is...

Synopsis= This is the first poem to appear in 'The Whitsun Weddings' and on the surface Larkin describes in great detail the scenery that he observes on a long train journey. We can infer that the train journey is from London to Hull, after he moved to the location in 1955 and stayed there until his death (1985). Although it may be significant to Hull, Larkin's description can be applicable to any location, which is perhaps why the writer leaves the title so universal as "Here" can be a different location from person to person.  As well as the physical journey that we embark on, it could also be argued that Larkin takes the reader on a metaphorical journey. One in which he takes to find himself and better himself, away from the restraints of society. This is clearly mirrored in some of his language used in "Here" but also more subtly embedded within his natural imagery.  Key Quotations + Analysis   1.) "Swerving to Solitude" In the ...

Synopsis= A caul is when a baby is born still in their amniotic sac, this was deemed as especially lucky and as a result sailors would buy the caul and use it as a token of luck. It is significant to note that Duffy was born within her caul therefore this poem has a somewhat autobiographical sense and one could argue that the caul is a symbol of Duffy's fortune. Key Quotations + Analysis=  1.) "I'll never be drowned" Here the speaker is perhaps reliant on the fortune that her caul brings her and it is a part of her that will "never" diminish,  "never" alludes to a tone of sarcasm which is significant as cauls were supposed to prevent a sailor from drowning at sea. Therefore, this sarcastic attitude is perhaps a result of misfortune in the speakers life causing her to majorly doubt the validity of the cauls fortune.  2.) "under the waves or spoil on a beach"  The speaker is questioning whether her caul is still used for luck ...

Synopsis= Here the poet observes and uses various sources of light to perhaps show an absence of love or rebirth/circle of life. Duffy stresses the importance of light and poses the question 'are we living in the shadows looking for light?', however it is important to note that the light in this poem is not important, it is the way the light is expressed by Duffy. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "The shy stars go stuttering on" Here stars are usually a symbol of hope, positivity and guidance, however the fact that they are shy it indicates that they are hiding themselves, this perhaps implies that the hope in life is temporary. Stuttering conveys that the guidance of the stars is somewhat ambiguous and lacks a strong consistency. 2.) "The flare of another match" This could suggest that there is always hope and the speaker can somewhat control that by generating light such as above. There is also always "another" opportunity to generate ...

Synopsis= This poem has an inconsistent focus, it begins nostalgic and pleasant but moves back to childhood and teenage memory, in the later stanzas Duffy still uses childhood imagery but in the present tense where they feel immobile, ending with reality and the speaker coming to the realisation that she is losing her memories. The inconsistent focus of this poem mimics the fast moving pace of time and memories and how these have a permanent imprint on our later lives. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.)  "Dried ink on the palms suddenly ran wet" Here dried ink refers to when you are younger in school when it was typical to jot your crushes name on your hand, this is significant as it "ran suddenly" mimicking that nervous feeling when around your crush. This would cause your hands to go clammy and it could also portray how our first love slips away. "Palm" can be easily hidden showing that although memories are a part of us we can mask them from anybody...

Synopsis= The programme "Top of the Form" was a BBC radio and TV quiz for secondary schools in the UK running from 1948-1986. Therefore this poem is based upon a speaker who was on this programme during the 60's and won, however since this victory they have been unable to move past this moment of their childhood and this theme is prevalent throughout the poem. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "Fizzing hope" "Fizzing" has connotations of sugary/fizzy drinks such as coke, which has further allusions to childhood as this was a drink commonly consumed during our school years.  The word choice fizzing also suggests that the speaker believes his youth was so special it was worth celebrating as champagne bottles are also known as "fizz". However it is significant that over time a fizz dies out and becomes flat, which mimics the significance of his memories. They are still "fizzing" to him but to everyone else they are flat.  2.) ...

Synopsis= Nostalgia is classed as a desire to return to a former time in our lives which is heavily conveyed in this poem. It is set in the past in the perception of mercenaries from Switzerland who had to leave their homes in search of fortunes. Nostalgia can also be classed as a mental illness that is incurable, sickness is portrayed in this poem both physically as the mercenaries would often suffer from severe altitude pains and pain of being removed from their home setting. Key quotations + Analysis= 1.) "Crude coins clenched" This imagery gives the impression that the coins are worthless, just like the memories in their head, it also portrays money in a negative light which suggests that the mercenaries are bitter tat they've had to leave their home for the sake of earning money. The use of consonance conveys the harshness of nostalgia to a persons mental health and the blunt, severe feeling of the altitude pains that the Swiss mercenaries felt. It could also...

Synopsis= This poem is based upon a relationship that has decayed over time, so much so that what is left is the shell of a marriage forged together through the commitments tied to their children and their family home. Key Quotations + Analysis 1.)  "Like a drawing, erased, coloured in" Drawings are a form of art, conveying that the relationship may have once been beautiful and precious.  Drawings are time consuming and require effort which imply that the couple put everything into this relationship but it still failed to be a success. "Erased" could show that they are aware of each others imperfections, yet instead of accepting them like an unconditional form of love should, he is erasing parts of her that he doesn't approve of.  "Coloured in" portrays that the couple may be presenting a false front to the public eye.  2.) "Pity of bells" The word choice "bells" heavily alludes to marriage bells, which indicate celeb...

Synopsis= This poem is based on a character in "Great Expectations" called Miss Havisham who is an archetypal spinster that was jilted on her wedding day and remains stuck in time. As a result the poem explores the bitter resentment of the speaker towards traditions and celebrations such as marriage. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "dark, green pebbles for eyes" The colour green has clear connotations to jealousy and envy, conveying that the speaker is envious of the life she lived before she met the man that jilted her, or envious of the life she could have had with him if he hadn't jilted her. Pebbles implies that the speaker has developed a heart of stone since her heartbreak and she is emotionless, it also could link to the allegorical story Medusa who turns anything in her vision to stone.  Pebbles are almost immortal which could convey that the trauma has immortalised her, she will never be at rest for what he did. 2.) "A red balloon bursti...

Synopsis= Its clear to see that this poem is based off a relationship that has been crushed through one partners decision to be deceitful and commit adultery against their partner. As a result the speaker of this poem demonstrates the effects, both short term and long term, that this act of deceit has Key Quotations + Analysis=  "Wash Themselves. Now" This line conveys the sense that the speaker is trying to cleanse herself of her husbands deceit from her body, it could also portray that her husband is attempting to wash himself clean of the guilt caused from his sins.  "Now" implies that she must constantly cleanse herself to feel sane and her mind must be washed frequently as the thoughts of her husbands deceit fill her mind. "Sweet Darkness" Here Duffy's use of an oxymoronic phrase links to the similar phrase 'ignorance is bliss' , connoting that when the speaker was unaware of her partners deceit it was much better, she would ...

Synopsis= This poem reflects on a broken relationship which the speaker is in mourning for, during this process they become very aware of the transient nature of time and the fact that it is finite, it is a force that will inevitably bring about change and it is an unstoppable force. Duffy could also be using this poem to critic the statement of "living in the meantime"  Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "We will be dead"  This line gives a tone of fatalism to the poem which adds emphasis to the inevitable nature of time. The speaker feels as if they are subservient to time and it is beyond their control.  "Will" is a modal verb which accentuates that the effects of time are definite and no one can oppose it, it could also relate to how time will out live the relationship and any relationship formed as "we" is a plural therefore it includes everyone. This furthermore emphasises the sheer power of time  2.) "The clocks slid back... st...

Synopsis= Duffy focuses this poem on the impact that is left after going through a first love and the surreal feeling of falling in love that takes over a persona briefly. It is clear to see in this poem that the speaker is now disconnected from their first love but the memories of it are reflected on nostalgically and with pleasure Key Quotations + Analysis= Waking, with a dream of first love forming real words, as close to my lips as lipstick, I speaker your name, after a silence of years, into the pillow, and the power of your name brings me here to the window, naked, to say it again to a garden shaking with light. This was a child's love, and yet I clench my eyes  till the pictures return, unfocused at first, then almost clear, an old film played at a slow speed. All day I will glimpse it, in windows of changing sky,   in mirrors, my lover's eyes, wherever you are. And later a star, long dead , here seems precisely  the size of a tear....

Synopsis= Despite being a short poem, Duffy is conveying a literal and metaphorical message within 'Drunk' by demonstrating the reasons for and effects of using escapism's, in this case in the form of alcohol. Some critics see the intoxication of the speaker as being metaphorical of a broken relationship. Key Quotations + Analysis= Suddenly the rain is hilarious The moon wobbles in the dusk What a laugh. Unseen frogs belch in the damp grass The strange perfumes of darkening trees. Cheap red wine and the whole world a mouth. Give me a double, a kiss. 1.) "The moon wobbles" Alcohol has distorted the speakers vision, they cant see straight as they cannot see past the broken relationship. The word choice "wobble" is somewhat immature which could connote that the speaker uses alcohol to become more joyous and humorous. The moon is symbolic of many things  Insanity= The speaker feels delusional which we could evidently blame...

Synopsis= Duffy uses this poem to explore the themes of mental health and isolation amongst young people and could be perhaps expressing the daily pressures that young people face and the detrimental effects attached to them, shown through the speaker of the poem who is clearly in a deviated mental health state. Key Quotations + Analysis 1.) "The rustle of my fathers ballgown" This initially gives an extremely distorted image of the speakers childhood as they have obviously blurred the gender roles of their mother and father, this distortion could imply that the speaker has lost grip of their identity and do not have clear grasp on what gender role they fit in as they are so lost within cliche/stereotypical perceptions of gender that they are unaware of how to act. This further conveys the emotional turmoil of the speaker because they are confused in their own body.  The word choice "rustle" is significant as it is such a precise sound to remember yet the spe...

Synopsis= Duffy chose to give this poem a second person narrative as the speaker depicts a pivotal journey in their life in which they are leaving a location which once held a special place in their heart. Despite the sadness of the speaker for leaving behind a chapter there is a semantic field of disease, decay and death surrounding the description of the old location, which suggests that it has lost meaning to the speaker. Key Quotations + Analysis 1.) "Stumps of houses" The word choice stump here gives allusion to something not fully growing, this could convey that the speaker must leave this location in her past in order to reach her maximum potential. "Stumps" also links to stumps of cigarettes, this could imply that certain taboo escapism's such as cigarettes have stunted the growth of this towns residents to rise above and beyond the restraints of this place.  2.) "You go for a drink, relaxed"  Duffy decides to end the poem in a similar ...

Synopsis= It is widely believed that Duffy based the poem 'Fraud' on a man name Robert Maxwell, however his prior name was Jon Ludwick Hock. Maxwell managed to carve a new identity for himself in England after moving from Czechoslovakia where he became a largely successful MP and media head. However after his death there was a burst of controversy surrounding Maxwell as it was believed that there was a lot of flaws in his finances, mainly from pensions. Key Quotations + Analysis 1.) "I spoke the English" Here the speaker is trying to affirm his English identity, however the deviant grammar contradicts this as no native English person would make this mistake. As a result this error flaws the speakers cover and almost unveils his true identity. 2.) "Politicians in and out of their pram"  This line has a lot of plosive language which can convey the speakers bitterness towards politics, his bitter tone is somewhat ironic as Robert Maxwell himself was...

Synopsis= Duffy centres this poem around the life of a biographer, it is clear to see that the speaker lives a life full of resentment and shame towards themselves for not living a life similar to the ones they are employed to write about.  Key Quotations + Analysis  1.) "Because you are dead"   It is significant that Duffy opens the poem with this line as it signifies that the biographer only becomes relevant after the death of someone who lived a life worth writing about. This enforces the nihilistic attitude of the speaker and sets the tone for what the speakers self perception is.  2.) "Green and crimson and gold"  The wallpaper is described by the speaker into such great detail, implies that the speaker knows everything about their subjects life but they will never know that the biographer existed. Green has connotations of envy which clearly relates to the speakers jealousy, crimson is a deep red which alludes to anger and rage that the spea...