philip larkin (1922-85)

context of Larkin’s time

part of The Movement

• distrust of flamboyant mannerisms / Romantic attitudes

• irony, understatement

• poetry should be accessible and about real people and events

• poets as ordinary people, not visionary (like Romantics)

Larkin’s ideas / themes in work

• often wrote about inadequate characters leading unfulfilled lives 

• describes himself in a self-deprecating, awkward way

• frank - taboo topics, elements of confessional poetry

• autobiographical

• sardonic, bitter - mocking himself, dysfunctional relationships

who is ‘Talking in Bed’ about?

Monica Jones - 10 years

• Larkin had many affairs

• poem made her uncomfortable: cause talk

what did critics say about ‘Talking in Bed’?

RORY WATERMAN = exploring the dangers of the overfamiliarity of cohabitation 

• Larkin apparently felt this for Monica

who are the people in ‘Wild Oats’?

• plain friend = Ruth Bowman (fiancee)

• English rose = Jane Exall

what was Larkin’s love life like?

• much infidelity on his part

• never married

  • but several long term relationships