"Philip Larkin, born in 1922, has been read under what are generally perceived as his major themes: death, fatalism and gloominess. However, throughout his life he had constantly been struggling with and reflecting on problems of sex, marriage, love, and living (cf. Motion, esp. 291). Publishing four volumes of poetry by the time of his decease in 1985, Larkin became known for his lucid and often sharp-witted verse as well as for being socially withdrawn, sometimes called "the Hermit of Hull", where he resided from 1955 onward."
A short overview over Larkin's oeuvre, focusing on the poems' connection with the image of "dawn" and its linkage to the poet's indecisiveness and struggle between life and writing.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Early treatment of "dawn"
3. Late treatment of "dawn"
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the recurring concept of "daybreak" in Philip Larkin's poetry and novels, examining how it intersects with his personal struggles regarding shyness, fear of death, and the aspiration to achieve artistic permanence through his writing.
- Analysis of early poetic works including "Dawn" and The North Ship.
- Examination of the metaphor of morning and daybreak in the novels Jill and A Girl in Winter.
- Investigation of the "curse of Adam" and the link between artistic ambition and fatalism.
- Critical reading of the late poem "Aubade" as an expression of the inevitability of extinction.
Excerpt from the Book
Early treatment of "dawn"
The North Ship, Philip Larkin's initial collection of poetry, is full of allusions to sunrise, morning, and daybreak, including a poem "Dawn" (one out of only seven in this collection with a title at all). Interestingly, a school magazine had already printed a short story called "Getting up in the Morning" five or six years earlier, when Larkin was at the end of Third Form (Motion, 22). Though literarily rather unimpressive, it provides evidence for his fascination with light and for his slowly but steadily developing melancholy. Whereas "Getting up in the Morning" contains a complaint about having to work when the day begins, "Dawn" handles its subject more symbolically. The speaker finds his heart "cold" and "loveless", like the outside world itself, which seems removed and "flying" away. Putting these pieces together, the sharp critic may already discern Larkin's growing elaboration on the curse of Adam - to use the cultural myth. In his eye, the world is a cold and barren place, which barely gives anything for free. The speaker in "Dawn" reacts with estrangement and passivity, a responsive figure iterated by many writers of the 20th century (among them T.S. Eliot, George Orwell and Samuel Beckett) to comment on the state of our common Christian Occident.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a biographical overview of Philip Larkin and outlines the essay's focus on the metaphorical connection between daybreak and his thematic concerns of shyness, fear, and artistic purpose.
Early treatment of "dawn": Explores how Larkin's early poetry and novels, specifically Jill and A Girl in Winter, utilize light and morning imagery to reflect his personal struggles and developing literary identity.
Late treatment of "dawn": Discusses the poem "Aubade" and how Larkin’s mature work confronts the inevitability of death and the endurance of poetry amidst the "intricate rented world."
Keywords
Philip Larkin, Daybreak, Poetry, Aubade, The North Ship, Jill, A Girl in Winter, Death, Fatalism, Artistic Ambition, Modernism, Melancholy, Literary Analysis, Shyness, Existence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
This paper examines how Philip Larkin uses the motif of "daybreak" as a recurring metaphor in his literature to navigate his personal anxieties and his identity as a writer.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The work centers on the intersection of fatalism, the fear of death, social withdrawal, the burden of artistic aspiration, and the nature of personal identity.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how Larkin's progression from early poetic sketches to his mature work shows a shifting yet persistent struggle to reconcile daily life with the pursuit of artistic permanence.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a close-reading literary analysis of selected poems and novels, supported by references to biographical and critical sources.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body is divided into an analysis of Larkin's early treatment of morning and light in his initial poetry and two novels, followed by a discussion of his later, darker engagement with the same themes in the poem "Aubade".
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Philip Larkin, Daybreak, Artistic Ambition, Fatalism, and Modernism.
How does Larkin treat the "curse of Adam" in his early work?
Larkin frames the world as cold and barren, viewing the necessity of work and life as a struggle where the speaker often adopts a stance of passivity and estrangement.
What function does the metaphor of the "swan" serve in the novel Jill?
The swan serves as a metaphor for the protagonist John Kemp's desire and his internal struggle with indecisiveness and social failure.
How does "Aubade" differentiate itself from Larkin's earlier writings?
Unlike his earlier, more hesitant works, "Aubade" presents a direct and unflinching confrontation with the reality of "unresting death" and the lack of comfort provided by traditional religion or philosophy.
- Arbeit zitieren
- B.A. Jari Niesner (Autor:in), 2014, The concept of daybreak in Larkin, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/279060
