'This Be The Verse' by Philip Larkin

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They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.

Editor 1 Interpretation

This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin: A Critical Analysis

Oh, who hasn't heard of Philip Larkin's This Be The Verse? This poem has been discussed and analyzed countless times, and yet it remains a timeless classic that never fails to stir up strong reactions from readers. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will be taking a closer look at this masterpiece of modern poetry, examining its themes, its structure, and its use of language.

Background Information

Before delving into the poem itself, it may be useful to provide a bit of context on its author, Philip Larkin. Larkin was an English poet, novelist, and librarian born in Coventry, England in 1922. He is widely regarded as one of the most important poets of the 20th century, and his work often deals with themes of death, isolation, and the difficulties of modern life.

This Be The Verse was first published in Larkin's 1974 collection High Windows, and quickly became one of his most famous poems. It has been widely anthologized and is often cited as an example of Larkin's dark, sardonic wit.

Themes

One of the most striking things about This Be The Verse is its unbridled cynicism. The poem is essentially a bitter rant against the idea of family, portraying it as a trap that dooms us to a life of misery and disappointment. The opening lines, "They fuck you up, your mum and dad. / They may not mean to, but they do," set the tone for the rest of the poem. Larkin is not interested in sugarcoating his message – he wants to make it clear that he believes parents are responsible for their children's problems.

This theme of blame runs throughout the poem. Larkin argues that our parents pass down their flaws and neuroses to us, creating a legacy of misery that is almost impossible to escape. He writes, "Man hands on misery to man. / It deepens like a coastal shelf." This image of misery as an ever-expanding abyss is a powerful one, and it reinforces the idea that we are all doomed to suffer because of our parents' mistakes.

Another important theme of the poem is the idea that we are all prisoners of our own biology. Larkin writes, "They fill you with the faults they had / And add some extra, just for you." This line suggests that we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our parents, no matter how hard we try to break free from them. We are trapped in a cycle of genetic inheritance that determines our fate, regardless of our own agency and personal decisions.

Ultimately, This Be The Verse is a deeply pessimistic poem that argues against hope, love, and the idea of progress. Larkin seems to believe that we are all caught in an endless cycle of suffering, and that there is no way out of it. As he writes in the final lines of the poem, "Get out as early as you can, / And don't have any kids yourself." This bleak advice is the poem's final message, a warning against the perils of reproduction and the dangers of perpetuating the cycle of misery.

Structure

In terms of its structure, This Be The Verse is a relatively simple poem. It consists of three stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is roughly iambic tetrameter. This gives the poem a sing-song quality that contrasts with its dark message, creating a sense of irony and tension.

One interesting aspect of the poem's structure is the way it builds on itself. Each stanza begins with a variation on the same line – "They fuck you up," "But they were fucked up in their turn," and "Man hands on misery to man." This repetition reinforces the poem's central theme and gives it a sense of momentum, as if it is building towards a conclusion.

The final stanza is particularly effective in this regard. After three stanzas of blaming parents for their children's suffering, Larkin turns his attention to the larger cycle of human misery. He writes, "Man hands on misery to man," a line that echoes the previous stanza but expands its scope. This final stanza serves as a kind of climax to the poem, and its pessimistic message is all the more powerful because of the buildup that has preceded it.

Language

Finally, let's take a look at the language of This Be The Verse. Larkin's style is characterized by a dry, understated wit, and this poem is no exception. His use of profanity in the opening lines is shocking and attention-grabbing, and it immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Larkin is not interested in mincing words – he wants to make his message as clear and unambiguous as possible.

Beyond its profanity, the language of This Be The Verse is notable for its simplicity. Larkin uses short, straightforward sentences and avoids flowery language or complex metaphors. This gives the poem a sense of directness and immediacy, as if Larkin is speaking directly to the reader.

One aspect of the poem's language that is often overlooked is its use of repetition. As I mentioned earlier, each stanza begins with a variation on the same line. This repetition serves to reinforce the poem's central message and to build a sense of momentum. Additionally, Larkin repeats the word "you" throughout the poem, creating a sense of universality. The poem is not directed at any specific individual but is rather a commentary on the human condition as a whole.

Conclusion

In conclusion, This Be The Verse is a powerful and important poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of blame and genetic inheritance, its simple yet effective structure, and its direct, unadorned language all contribute to its enduring appeal. For anyone interested in the darker side of human nature or the complexities of family relationships, This Be The Verse is a must-read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry This Be The Verse: A Critical Analysis

Philip Larkin's "This Be The Verse" is a poem that has been widely discussed and analyzed by literary critics and enthusiasts alike. The poem's controversial nature and its use of profanity have made it a subject of debate and discussion for decades. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices to understand its significance and impact.

The poem's title, "This Be The Verse," is a play on words that suggests that the poem is about the nature of poetry itself. However, the poem is not about poetry but rather about the destructive nature of family and how it affects individuals. The poem's opening line, "They fuck you up, your mum and dad," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Larkin's use of profanity in the first line is deliberate and shocking, as it immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the poem's confrontational tone.

The poem's first stanza describes how parents pass on their flaws and insecurities to their children, causing them to suffer the same fate. Larkin writes, "They may not mean to, but they do. They fill you with the faults they had. And add some extra, just for you." The use of the word "faults" suggests that parents are flawed and imperfect, and their imperfections are passed on to their children. The phrase "just for you" implies that parents intentionally pass on their flaws to their children, which is a harsh indictment of parental behavior.

The second stanza of the poem describes how children, in turn, pass on their flaws to their own children, perpetuating the cycle of dysfunction. Larkin writes, "But they were fucked up in their turn. By fools in old-style hats and coats, who half the time were soppy-stern. And half at one another's throats." The phrase "old-style hats and coats" suggests that the previous generation was rigid and traditional, and their parenting style was outdated. The phrase "soppy-stern" suggests that the previous generation was emotionally inconsistent, sometimes being overly affectionate and at other times being harsh and critical. The phrase "half at one another's throats" suggests that the previous generation was also dysfunctional and prone to conflict.

The poem's final stanza is a call to action, urging the reader to break the cycle of dysfunction and not have children. Larkin writes, "Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don't have any kids yourself." The phrase "man hands on misery to man" suggests that the cycle of dysfunction is perpetuated from one generation to the next. The phrase "it deepens like a coastal shelf" suggests that the cycle of dysfunction becomes more entrenched and difficult to break over time. The final line of the poem, "and don't have any kids yourself," is a stark and controversial statement that suggests that the only way to break the cycle of dysfunction is to not have children.

The poem's structure is simple and straightforward, consisting of three stanzas of four lines each. The poem's rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry. The poem's meter is iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or stressed and unstressed syllables. The poem's rhythm is steady and consistent, which gives the poem a sense of urgency and momentum.

The poem's use of literary devices is also noteworthy. The poem's use of profanity is deliberate and shocking, as it immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the poem's confrontational tone. The poem's use of repetition, particularly the phrase "they fuck you up," emphasizes the poem's central theme and reinforces the idea that dysfunction is perpetuated from one generation to the next. The poem's use of metaphor, particularly the metaphor of the "coastal shelf," suggests that dysfunction becomes more entrenched and difficult to break over time.

In conclusion, Philip Larkin's "This Be The Verse" is a powerful and controversial poem that explores the destructive nature of family and how it affects individuals. The poem's use of profanity, repetition, metaphor, and literary devices all contribute to its impact and significance. The poem's call to action, urging the reader to break the cycle of dysfunction and not have children, is a stark and controversial statement that continues to resonate with readers today.

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