Reasons for attendance Flashcards
(12 cards)
what is the significance of the title Reasons For Attendance
suggests the dancers are faced with the expectation and requirement to take part in the social event
may also be a pun on the french term ‘Attendre’ referring to how the speaker listens to music as an individual
what draws the speaker to the lighted glass
term used for this - slight ao3
rhyme
‘the trumpets voice ,loud and authoritative,’ - the personification of the trumpet signifies the speaker lacks agency almost beckoned to the trumpet’s call representative of jazz and music
the lighted glass emblematic of the isolation of the speaker who seems cold and dull contrasted by the warmth of the color imagery conveys the appeal and desire of dance
the glass also acts as a physical barrier - which perhaps establishes Larkin as through extension of his speaker as the Poete Maudit - a term to which defines poets who aimed to distance themselves and were outsiders
half rhyme and visual rhyme of ‘authoritative’ and ‘five’ consolidates the speaker as isolated and removed unable to fit in with the dancers he is uncomplimentary to.
- all under twenty five -
appositive conveys the condescending tone of the speaker as he judges the dancers perceiving them to be naïve and inexperienced reinforces his argument by discrediting the dancers as foolish
faced to flushed face
solemnly on the beat of happiness
fricative alliteration suggests the choreographed and contrived nature of the social meeting
subverts the usual basis of dancing as a free and spontaneous movement instead appear serious and with intent suggests restrictive nature of following societal expectation to attempt to find a partner
To oppose the dancers Jazz provides joy lose and free flowing style of music that is uncontained and often improvised
‘or so do i fancy sensing the smoke and sweat// the wonderful feel of girls
polysemic of fancy either contemplating or suggest the speaker does have a desire for sexual pursuit - sibilance amplifies the dancers seedy intent whilst exciting not all glorified with sweat quite disgusting and also cliched idea people will believe they can find happiness solely in relationships ‘lion’s share’
why be out here ?
But then why be in there?
effect of rhetorical qs and voice
how else does the speaker discredit the dancers purpose for attending
Voice shifts toward tone of philosophical enquiry yet through the epiphora questions are leading enabling the speaker to justify his own view and opinion
through the enjambment - ‘sheer // Inaccuracy as far as I’m concerned’ the speaker emphasizes his separation from the dancers and undermines there motives entirely to stress his side of the argument is correct.
how does the speaker present art
how does he conflict this
ao3
‘what call me is that lifted rough tonged bell’ - argues that art elevates the speaker perceives himself as superior to the dancers yet argues that art does not have to be polished or refined it is accessible for all perhaps reflective of Larkin’s own personal view as a movement writer heavily condemned the Modernist convoluted form of poetry whereas Larkin wrote to appeal to the universal experience using often vernacular/colloquial language evidenced by the parenthesis (Art, If you like)
Yet, the speaker contradicts his previous declaration art is universal by suggesting he is one of select few as its ‘individual sound/ insists i too am individual’ - and that whilst the dancers use jazz as a tool to gain a relationship the speaker uses jazz in the correct way appreciating the art
how does the speaker respond to art
a03
‘it speaks; I hear; others may hear as well’ - the repeated caesura emphasizes the separation due to art however follows the call to art seems rather robotic in response lacks agency
Larkins own view on jazz ‘ i could live a week without poetry but not a day without jazz’ is founded in his speaker who is drawn and compulsed to follow the music.
what is the effect of the chiasmas
But not for me nor i for them - reiterates separation creates/crafts a sense of individuality
how does the speaker initially est a distinct and definitive conclusion
using language appears logical and balanced ‘therefore’
and - continues to hold the judgemental and condescending tone against the dancers through the animalistic language of ‘maul to and fro’ seems primitive and sexually violent
yet contrasts this with the syntactic parallelism ‘believing this // believing that’ - where his opinion is baseless and not grounded in fact
what is the ending tone of the speaker
the ending rhyme scheme suggets the speaker has reached a bitter conclusion ‘satified/lied’ reevaluates beliefs of superiroity
speaker also question if he has deceived himself intentionally with the porgression from ‘misjudged’ arguably a mistake to ‘lied’ an active attempt to contrive his argument
Larkin solidifies the speaker that is deceived not the dancers with the reference to ‘himself’
what are the ways isolation is shown ?
half rhyme scheme visual rhyme of ‘authoritative’ and ‘five’
casurea it speaks; I hear; others may hear as well’
‘sheer // Inaccuracy
lighted glass
