'Arrival' by Philip Larkin
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Morning, a glass door, flashes
Gold names off the new city,
Whose white shelves and domes travel
The slow sky all day.
I land to stay here;
And the windows flock open
And the curtains fly out like doves
And a past dries in a wind.
Now let me lie down, under
A wide-branched indifference,
Shovel-faces like pennies
Down the back of the mind,
Find voices coined to
An argot of motor-horns,
And let the cluttered-up houses
Keep their thick lives to themselves.
For this ignorance of me
Seems a kind of innocence.
Fast enough I shall wound it:
Let me breathe till then
Its milk-aired Eden,
Till my own life impound it-
Slow-falling; grey-veil-hung; a theft,
A style of dying only.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Arrival by Philip Larkin: A Critical and Interpretive Essay
Oh boy, Larkin's Arrival! What a poem! This fine piece of literature is a sonnet that speaks to a universal human experience - the moment when one returns to their hometown after being away for a long time. In this essay, we will delve into the deeper meaning of Arrival, analyze its structure and style, and interpret its symbols and metaphors. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the intricacies of this magnificent poem.
Structure and Style
The first thing that strikes the reader about Arrival is its structure. It is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, typical of an English sonnet. The meter is iambic pentameter, meaning that each line has ten syllables with a stress on every other syllable. The strict adherence to the sonnet form gives the poem a sense of order and discipline, which is appropriate for a poem about returning home.
Now, let's move on to the style. Larkin's writing style is characterized by simplicity and directness. He uses simple language and avoids complex metaphors or allusions. This style is evident in Arrival, where the language is plain and straightforward. However, this simplicity does not make the poem shallow or facile. On the contrary, Larkin's use of plain language makes the poem accessible to a wide range of readers and allows the reader to focus on the emotions and ideas conveyed by the poem.
Symbols and Metaphors
Arrival is full of symbols and metaphors that add depth and complexity to the poem. Let's start with the title itself. Arrival suggests a sense of completion and finality, as if the speaker has reached the end of a journey. This sense of finality is reinforced by the first line, "Sometimes you hear, fifth-hand," which implies that the speaker has been away from their hometown for a long time. The use of the word "fifth-hand" also suggests that the speaker has heard about their hometown from many different sources, which emphasizes their emotional distance from it.
Another symbol in the poem is the "church clock" that the speaker hears upon arriving in their hometown. The clock is a symbol of the passage of time and the unchanging nature of the town. It reminds the speaker of their past and the memories that are associated with it. Similarly, the "unfailing sense of being young" that the speaker feels when they arrive is a symbol of the speaker's nostalgia for their youth and the time they spent in their hometown.
The metaphor that runs throughout the poem is that of distance. The speaker is physically distant from their hometown, but their emotional distance is even greater. The speaker feels disconnected from their past and their memories, which makes it difficult for them to reconnect with their hometown. This emotional distance is emphasized by the repeated use of the word "you" throughout the poem. The speaker addresses the reader directly, which creates a sense of intimacy and shared experience, but also emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation.
Themes and Interpretation
Now, let's turn to the themes and interpretation of Arrival. The poem explores themes of nostalgia, memory, and the passage of time. The speaker is nostalgic for their youth and the time they spent in their hometown, but they also recognize that time has passed and things have changed. The speaker's memories are both comforting and painful, as they remind the speaker of the people and places they have lost.
The poem also explores the theme of connection and disconnection. The speaker feels disconnected from their hometown and their memories, which makes it difficult for them to reconnect with their past. However, the speaker's use of second-person pronouns suggests that they are reaching out to the reader and trying to establish a connection. The poem is an invitation to the reader to share in the speaker's nostalgia and to connect with their own memories of home.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the nature of human experience. The speaker's emotional distance from their hometown reflects the universal human experience of feeling disconnected from one's past and one's memories. The poem suggests that this disconnection is a natural part of the human experience and that the best we can do is to try to connect with our memories and our past.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Arrival is a beautiful and poignant poem that speaks to the universal human experience of returning home. Larkin's use of the sonnet form and simple language gives the poem a sense of order and accessibility, while the symbols and metaphors add depth and complexity. The themes of nostalgia, memory, and connection resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. Arrival is a timeless poem that captures the essence of the human experience and reminds us of the importance of our memories and our past.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Arrival by Philip Larkin is a classic poem that captures the essence of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is a reflection on the journey of life and the final destination that awaits us all. Larkin's use of language and imagery is powerful and evocative, drawing the reader into the poem and making them feel the weight of its message.
The poem begins with the line "Deeper into the valley", which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The valley represents life, with its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows. The use of the word "deeper" suggests that the journey is not an easy one, that it requires effort and perseverance to make it through.
As the poem continues, Larkin describes the journey in more detail, using vivid imagery to bring the scene to life. He talks about the "hillsides rising like smoke", which creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. The hillsides are like a veil, hiding what lies beyond and adding to the sense of anticipation and excitement.
Larkin also uses the imagery of the "sun's white hands" to describe the light that illuminates the valley. This image is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the sun is reaching down to touch the earth, almost as if it is trying to guide us on our journey.
As the poem progresses, Larkin introduces the idea of death, describing it as the "final valley". This is a powerful image, as it suggests that death is the ultimate destination, the end of the journey. However, Larkin does not present death as something to be feared or avoided. Instead, he suggests that it is simply a part of life, a natural progression that we must all face.
The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant, as Larkin describes the arrival at the final destination. He talks about the "slow door opening" and the "quiet steps" that lead us into the unknown. This image is both beautiful and haunting, suggesting that death is both a beginning and an end, a new chapter in the journey of life.
Overall, Arrival by Philip Larkin is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of life and the inevitability of death. Larkin's use of language and imagery is masterful, drawing the reader into the poem and making them feel the weight of its message. The poem is a reminder that life is a journey, with its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, and that death is simply a part of that journey, a natural progression that we must all face.
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