Afternoons Flashcards
(9 cards)
When was the poem published ?
1959
What is the poem about ?
This is a melancholy poem, which reflects on the subject of marriage. The poem deals with Larkin’s view on young mothers watching their children playing in a playground and he concludes that marrying young leads to the motherslosing theiridentities. Larkin’s description of youngmotherstaking their childrentoa playground seems normal but the narrator’s point of view on life is expressed. What seems like an ordinary, everyday occurrence highlights the theme of change and how it cannot be avoided, like the passing of time.
What is the context of Larkin and the poem ?
Educated at St John’s College, Oxford
- Worked at Hull University as a Librarian
- Larkin never married; had no children; never went abroad
- To many people, Larkin’s life seems unremarkable
- Critics say his poetry was miserable and negative.
- His poetry is described as ‘melancholic’ (downbeat)
- He is famous for celebrating the ordinary, writing about day to day life and
relationships - as well as aspects not usually considered important enough to be
the subject of poetry - He was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 1965
- He was offered but declined the position of Poet Laureate in 1984
What is the structure of Afternoons ?
The first stanza deals with Larkin’s rather cynical view of marriage and deals with the idea that the young mothers are isolated. Larkin’s use of language emphasis the recurring theme of emptiness within the young mothers and how regimented their lives have become.
- In the second stanza Larkin moves from the general view into the individual and describes the mothers as being alone with little support from their working husbands.
- In the third stanza Larkin focuses back onto the children and how because of them the mothers are unable to live their own lives and they are merely looking in. Their dreams, aspirations and needs have been put to one side
What are the poems possible themes and links ?
Time passing : To autumn and Imperceptibly as grief
Loss of innocence/ growing up : Death of a naturalist
What does the title “afternoons” suggest ?
It suggest the end of the day and represents time moving on
You could also argue that the mother that Larkin is observing are in the “afternoon” period of their life’s
What does the quote “summer is fading” illustrate ?
That their mothers life’s are moving on and summer could represent happiness so the mothers could have a sense of longing of the past because of the loss of that happiness
What image did Larking create when he used the words “hollows” “young mothers” and “assemble”
It creates an image that theses “young mothers” have lost any sense of enjoyment in their lives because now their lives are “hollow” illustrating a sense of emptiness and with their empty lives they “assemble at swing and sand pit” suggesting that the mothers gather without choice and that it is a routine
What does the last line “to the side of their own lives” imply ?
It echoes on the idea of “setting their children free” from the first stanza. There is implication that their children are ruling their lives, the same children who “except to be taken home”
