Poetry of Departures

Poetry of Departures By Philip Larkin

Themes of the Poem • Escape • Boredom • Restlessness

Escape Larkin firstly introduces the theme through dialogue. Howeer! he shows it to "e dialogue through italics! not speech marks # for e$ample% &He chucked up everything   And just cleared off”  This is at the "eginning of the poem! when Larkin appears to approe of the idea of escapism% “ 'ertain you approe This audacious! purifying! Elemental moe.(

Howeer! "y the end of the poem he changes this iew to sarcasm! which indicates that! after weighing up the pros and cons of leaing! he is dou"tful and has his suspicions a"out escaping eery day life. &)es! swagger the nut*strewn roads! 'rouch in the fo+c+sle ,tu""ly with goodness! if weren+t so artificial(

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The word swagger+ has connotations of something unrespecta"le and ignorant # indicating Larkin+s thoughts of those who run away and escape from the continuous routine which he is currently suffering from. This indication leads to the ne$t theme in the poem% "oredom.

Boredom &/nd my life! in perfect order( This is said at the end of the second erse! and demonstrates Larkin+s feelings that his life has "een une$citing and uneentful. His hatred is illustrated through descri"ing his currently dull life as something in perfect order+. This is also shown in the phrase! &,o"er and industrious.( 0nce again! the theme of "oredom is illuminated! showing not only his hatred in work! "ut his disgust in his life # he hates that his life is "oring and wishes to "e free.

Restlessness Larkin firstly coneys his feeling of restlessness in the poem in the second erse! with the notion of departure! which is then illuminated throughout the rest of the poem. &1e all hate home  /nd haing to "e there( Larkin+s disdain towards his home life demonstrates his need to escape.

Techni2ues of the Poem • 0$ymoron • En3am"ment

0$ymoron -n the final line of the poem! Larkin leaes the reader with an o$ymoron% &Reprehensi"ly perfect.( The denotation of the word reprehensie+ is a feeling of guilt. This indicates that Larkin feels guilty a"out these perfect surroundings! and is desperate to leae. Therefore! Reprehensiely perfect+ is an o$ymoron% how can something "e perfect! when it triggers his guilt4

En3am"ment -n the poem! Larkin uses the techni2ue of en3am"ment when he continues a sentence+ in the last lines of the second erse! on to the ne$t. &/nd my life! in perfect order% ,o to hear it said He walked out on the whole crowd Leaes me flushed and stirred( This successfully creates a smooth and flowing link5 leading the reader on to the ne$t erse.

Philip Larkin! 6788*679: