Love Songs In Age by Philip Larkin - Poem Analysis

Overview

• Collection: Part of Larkin's collection The Whitsun Weddings
• Themes:
  • Hope, nostalgia, disappointment
  • The power of music to move us

Poem Summary

• Subject: A widow rediscovers her old sheet music, reflecting on past hopes and promises.
• Emotion: While the music evokes memories of hope and potential, it also reminds her of its inability to solve life's problems.

Detailed Analysis

Stanza One

• Character: Unassuming, ordinary woman preserving her songs
• Imagery: Songs were damaged over time, reflecting an ordinary life
• Setting: Rediscovery during widowhood emphasizes loneliness

Stanza Two

• Action: Music transports her back to youth
• Feelings: Relearning songs brings back hope and certainty from the past

Stanza Three

• Realization: Music promises to solve problems, but reality intrudes
• Emotion: Sadness and tears as she acknowledges music's limitations

Themes

• Music and Age: Power of music versus the inevitability of aging and disappointment
• Hope and Disillusionment: Youthful promise versus adult reality

Structure and Form

• Form: Three octaves, each with eight lines
• Rhyme Scheme: abacbcdd
• Techniques: Use of enjambment and iambic feet

Literary Devices

• Oxymoron: "Frank submissive chord" evokes conflicting emotions
• Sibilance: "Its bright incipience sailing above" adds melody and sadness
• Iambic Feet: Creates melody, emphasizes key words

Background on Philip Larkin

• Biography: Born 1922 in Coventry, England
• Career: Poet, novelist, librarian; passionate about jazz
• Reputation: Respected poet, but reputation marred by personal correspondence

FAQs

• Woman in Poem: Fictional character; not based on anyone specific
• Pessimism: Poem ends sadly but acknowledges beauty of music

This analysis captures the essence of Larkin’s work, highlighting the complex interplay between music, memory, and the passage of time.