Poetry - How to Write the Essay - Focus on Larkin - Aoife's Notes

Planning Your <strong>Essay</strong> on Larkin
After you have arranged your poems by <strong>the</strong>me, <strong>the</strong> next step is <strong>to</strong> look at <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>ne of <strong>the</strong>
poems. This can be a good starting point for your essay plan. In o<strong>the</strong>r words if you were
writing about Larkin's view of marriage or romantic love, which poems would you use and in
which order? Look at <strong>the</strong> diagram below <strong>to</strong> give yourself an idea of one possible approach.
The poems chosen move from negative <strong>to</strong> positive.
Marriage/Romantic Love
Introduction
Larkin's view of marriage ra<strong>the</strong>r cynical
Use quote from Andrew Motion about married state being 'bloody hell'
In this essay... admire philosophical approach and acknowledgement that some questions
cannot be answered
The Whitsun Weddings
Seems <strong>to</strong> see ceremony/celebrations as faintly ridiculous and almost damaging,
Church Going
Yet he recognises <strong>the</strong> importance of ceremony for people
An Arundel Tomb
He is moved by <strong>the</strong> apparent love that existed between <strong>the</strong> earl and countess but
struggles with <strong>the</strong> idea of love surviving.
Wedding Wind
Quite positive view
Aoife O’Driscoll 2011 Page 11