'Whitsun Weddings' - The Whitsun Weddings

Summary:

‘Whitsun Weddings’ is a poem about a stopping train journey from Hull to London. It is described by Larkin as ‘the train that all the wedding couples would get on and go to London for their honeymoon’.  Larkin mentions the appearance, class and emotions of each member of the bridal party; the girls, fathers, mothers, uncles, the couples and the children.

Themes:

The recurring theme in this poem is the class and hierarchy of society. Larkin often makes references to the idea that the wedding is cheap, such as "nylon gloves" and "jewellery-substitutes". Larkin displays is snobbish background which is not only a recurring theme in 'Whitsun Weddings' but throughout the whole collection of The Whitsun Weddings.

The Wedding Party:

'Talking in Bed' - The Whitsun Weddings

Summary:
'Talking in Bed' is a poem about the absence romance and passion in a relationship. It is also about how relationships can deteriorate over time and broken communication between two people who were once in love.

Title:
The title gives a false sense of the actual poem. When we think of 'Talking in Bed' the image given is a couple in their intimate space and who are likely having a private conversation. However, it can also give the impression that this romantic couple has lost the spark - as rather than being intimate with each other, the idea is to avoid anything of the sort.

Analysis:

'Here' - The Whitsun Weddings

Summary:
'Here' is a slow-moving poem describing the imagery in Larkin's home town of Hull.

Imagery:
The imagery in the poem is very vivid. For example "The piled gold clouds, the shining gull-marked mud". Simple or ugly sights are given a 'pretty' look such as "Hidden weeds flower". Larkin almost makes the most out of the scenes surrounding him.

However, Larkin also shows that the town is not the nicest of all. "swerving through fields
Too thin and thistled to be called meadows".

Themes:

The themes in the poem are pessimism/realism and nature. Nature as a theme can often represent peace and hope shown by the line "of skies, scarecrows, haystacks, hares and pheasants".

Rhyming Pattern:

1st Stanza: A B A B C D D C?

2nd Stanza: A B B? A C D C D

3rd Stanza: A B A B? C D D C

4th Stanza: A B B A? C D C D

Critical Analysis:
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