At Grass

Question 1

How does the horses feel at the start?

Answer 1

They feel neglected as they have retired from work.

Question 2

What do they actually like about retirement?

Answer 2

It’s relaxing

Question 3

What are they waiting for?

Answer 3

Death

Question 4

What do they think about death?

Answer 4

It’s frightening but they find comfort in it.

Question 5

What did Larkin do?

Answer 5

He rejected the position of poet laureate twice as he preferred to remain private and to focus on his work

Question 6

What’s the structure?

Answer 6

ABCABC - 6 line stanza (sestets)

Question 7

1) “from the cold shade they __ in”
- what does cold shade show? separate from?

Answer 7

1) shelter
- the retired ones are neglected, from society and identity

Question 8

2) “__ of empty cars, and heat”
- technique? what does the word heat show? how is working life presented?

Answer 8

2) squadrons
- juxtaposition, it shows that the cold shade is actually relaxing and comforting, it’s amazing but hectic

Question 9

3) “do __ plague their ears like __?”
- what does plague show? - feelings? how are flies shown? technique?

Answer 9

3) memories, flies
- violence - overwhelming, annoying pest, simile

Question 10

4) “summer by __ all stole away”
- has no what? what was stolen away from him?

Answer 10

4) summer
- no choice, all his summers were stolen away from him when he was working

Question 11

5) “with __ in the evening come”
- feeling? what’s coming? how the speaker feel about the evening?

Answer 11

5) bridles
- fear, death, is comfortable with the idea of death