Philip Larkin

‘If, my darling’ by Philip Larkin explores the mind. The speaker presents an interesting picture of life from the outside and the inside.

‘Lines On A Young Lady’s Photograph Album’ by Philip Larkin is a poem about memory and the past. The speaker relishes the access he has to his lover’s past when he looks through her photos with her.

‘Maiden Name’ by Philip Larkin suggests certain beliefs about marriage and identity. In part, he suggests that a young woman has lost something when she changed her name.

‘MCMXIV’ by Philip Larkin is a war poem. It focuses on the important changes England faced after the end of World War II.

‘Myxomatosis’ by Philip Larkin is about a disease of the same name. It was introduced to the wild rabbit population in Britain in the mid-1900s.

In classic Philip Larkin style, ‘Next, Please’ is a bleak reflection on life. It explores death and asks the reader to focus on the present while they can.

‘No Road’ by Philip Larkin explores the end of a relationship. The speaker addresses the listener and claims to want to see time erode everything they built.

Larkin’s ‘Nothing To Be Said’ pessimistically explores the slow, steady and inevitable aproach of death. To Larkin, life is meerly a prolonged death.

‘Places, Loved Ones’ by Philip Larkin is a poem about the complexities of marraiges. No matter who the couple it, the relationship isn’t going to be perfect.

‘Poetry Of Departures’ by Philip Larkin is a thoughful poem. It depicts a universal desire to restart one’s life and begin new.

‘Reasons For Attendance’ by Philip Larkin is a poem about happiness. It explores the difference between the poet’s happiness and that dancers.

‘Skin’ by Philip Larkin speaks on the importance of a person’s identity. Specifically, he is concerned with the influence and biographical aspects of the skin.

‘Spring’ by Philip Larkin is a surprising poem about the spring season. Rather than focus on the beauty of the season, Larkin turns to humanity’s worst impulses.

‘Sunny Prestatyn’ by Philip Larkin is a famous poem about advertising and vanity. The poet depicts how unattainable a perfect lifestyle is through the destruction of a sign.

‘Take One Home for the Kiddies’ by Philip Larkin is a poem about animal rights. It focuses on the cruelty humanity is capable of towards helpless animals in their care.

‘Talking in Bed’ by Philip Larkin depicts the difficulties a speaker has talking in bed with his lover. It’s a poem about how loneliness can invade even the most initmate moments.

‘The Building’ by Philip Larkin is an interesting piece about a mysterious and ambiguous building. Only a little is revealed through the poem.

‘The Importance of Elsewhere’ by Philip Larkin is a poem about Irish culture. The poet describes himself and his life in Ireland as an Englishman.

‘The Mower’ by Philip Larkin is a strange poem about mowing the lawn. It describes the speaker’s discovery of a hedgehog in the blades.

‘The Trees’ by Philip Larkin is a commentary on life. Specifically, the examination of nature’s details. It highlights a number of unknowns that mirror the uncertainties in life.

‘The Whitsun Weddings’ by Philip Larkin is a meaningful poem that reflects post-war Britain. It is one of Larkin’s most famous.