AT GRASS Flashcards
(19 cards)
The eye can hardly pick them out
image of the horses being isolated from soc - ambigious pronoun = sense of anonymity and forgotten identity
what are the horses an extended metaphor for?
identity
cold shade
horses being neglected/miserable (kept away from society)
OR
being in relief- no longer bombarded with heat of work in the summer by summer
stands anonymous again.
return to a lack of identity being inevitable + endstop emph finality of identity
then one crops grass, and moves about- the other seeming to look on-
use of paranthesis highlights the idleness and passivity of the horses - lack purpose and goals
Yet fifteen years ago
time marker emph the significance of their past identity- legend like/story
Two distances sufficed to fable them/names were artificed
idea of being satisfied- sibilance emph idea of achievement through their past
they’ve become commemorated - presented as historical legends/myths which immortalise their past identities
Of Cups and Stakes and Handicaps
proper nouns emph the significance of their past to their identities- identified through their past achievements
Silks at the start: against sky/ Numbers and parasols: outside
image of fame and celebration for the horses - listing emph the limitless opportunities they had - reflects excitement and energy associated with the past
jxtp current lives - aimless and limited
and littered grass: then the long cry
frequent caesura reflects the overwhelming and exhausting nature of their past lives and jobs
to stop-press columns
image of permanence in identity - forever belongs to the past- once had relevance
Do memories plague their ears like flies? They shake their heads.
hypophora emph the certainty to let go of the past and memories - ask if their previous identities haunt them/make up what they are now (presented as annoying)
summer by summer stole away
carefree passing of time - lack of restrictions - happiness and freedom in their present as well
unmolesting meadows/ gallop for what must be joy
no longer bombarded by the pressures of work - finds calmness is nature and freedom over job
retirement is presented as an almost relief
they / Have slipped their names
enjambment emph the ease of their transition to retirement - natural and accepting of new stage in life since its inevitable
AO3 at grass
idea of achievement creating contentment reflected in Larkin being awarded a CBE but then rejecting position of poet laureate
alamancked
their identities are now a subject of the past - stored away and horses distance themselves
why is their a contrast between the later and earlier stanzas of at grass
emph the differences in the horses lives during work and after - their past becomes more unimportant to them as they age = inevitably
return to present at end - how quickly they move on from the past
bridles in the evening come
the horses are easing into the next stage of life - death
