The Trees - Philip Larkin

CONTEXT (Author): Who was Philip Larkin, and what are his works often about?

A prominent English poet in the 20th century. Known for his contemplative and often melancholic poetry. His work addresses mortality, aging, alienation, and the limitations of life.

CONTEXT (Style): What is notable about Larkin's poetic style?

He is known for his use of formal structures and straightforward language, which contrasts with the complexity of the themes he explores.

TITLE: What two concepts does the title "The Trees" symbolise in the poem?

The calmness and stability of the trees, often seen as representative of renewal, strength, and endurance. It contrasts this "newness" with the inevitability of aging and death.

SUMMARY: What is the central comparison Larkin makes in the poem?

Larkin explores the cyclical nature of life through the trees' annual "rebirth." He compares this optimistic renewal to human aging and inevitable decline.

AUTHORIAL INTENT: What is Larkin's main purpose or tone in the poem?

Reflective, Romanticise, Examine, Mourn, Expose. The tone is one of balancing pessimism with optimism.

KEY QUOTATION (Simile/Growth): Which line suggests the trees' growth is an almost conscious, mysterious event?

"Like something almost being said"

KEY QUOTATION (Metaphor/Grief): Which lines tie the trees' appearance to human sorrow?

"The recent buds relax and spread, / Their greenness is a kind of grief"

KEY QUOTATION (Annual Cycle/Deception): Which line questions the authenticity of the trees' renewal?

"Their yearly trick of looking new"

KEY QUOTATION (Aging/Struggle): Which line personifies the trees as struggling against time?

"Yet still the unresting castles thresh"

KEY QUOTATION (Renewal/Epizeuxis): Which lines use repetition to reinforce the idea of a new beginning?

"Last year is dead, they seem to say, / Begin afresh, afresh, afresh."

KEY CONCEPT: Mortality and Renewal

The contrast between the trees' apparent rebirth each spring and the inevitable aging and death of both trees and humans.

KEY CONCEPT: Lessons from Nature

Nature's cycles offer the possibility of renewal, prompting the speaker to reflect on what he can learn from the trees.

KEY CONCEPT: Time is Precious

Time's fleeting nature is highlighted by the cycles of the trees and the speaker's awareness of his own mortality.

KEY CONCEPT: Balancing Pessimism with Optimism

The poem balances a sense of inevitable decay with the potential for fresh starts and hope.

KEY CONCEPT: Appearances vs. Reality

The trees appear to be 'born again' each spring, but the reality is that they too are aging, symbolising the gap between external appearances and internal truths.

ATTITUDES: List the main attitudes and feelings.

Melancholy, Optimistic, Disappointment, Rushed, and Admiration.

LANGUAGE (Simile): What is the effect of the simile, "Like something almost being said"?

This creates anticipation and suggests the trees' growth is meaningful, almost like they are communicating something.

LANGUAGE (Metaphor): What is the effect of the metaphor, "Their greenness is a kind of grief"?

Larkin uses green, typically a symbol of life, to evoke sadness and loss, subverting the usual associations.

LANGUAGE (Personification): What is the effect of the personification, "unresting castles thresh"?

The trees are given human-like qualities, emphasising their struggle against time and the inevitability of change.

SOUND (Fricatives): What is the effect of fricative sounds?

In "thresh" and "thickness," these sounds mimic the rustling of the trees and create a sense of bleakness and friction, reflecting the struggles of life and aging.

SOUND (Consonance): What is the effect of the repeated 'r' sounds?

The repeated 'r' sounds in "relax and spread" and "resting" add to the unsettling, jarring tone, enhancing the poem's melancholic atmosphere.

FORM + STRUCTURE (Rhyme & Metre): What is the rhyme scheme and metre, and what does it mirror?

Iambic Metre and ABBA Rhyme scheme. The predictable metre mirrors the cyclic nature of the seasons and gives the poem a bouncy feel.

FORM + STRUCTURE (Caesura): What is the function of caesura (pauses) in the poem?

The use of pauses, such as in "Their greenness is a kind of grief," isolates key moments, highlighting the internal conflict and sadness of the speaker.

FORM + STRUCTURE (Epizeuxis): What is the effect of the repetition at the end?

Epizeuxis (the repetition of "afresh, afresh, afresh") at the end reinforces the desire for new beginnings, despite the inevitable passage of time.

THEMES: List the main themes.

Nature, Time, Death, Magic, and Renewal.