MCMXIV by Philip Larkin

What is this poem This poem takes a nostalgic look at Britain at the time of the start of the Great War. It looks back at
about? life in England at the time taking a distinctly nostalgic, rose tinted glasses view. However, in the final
lines the mood changes to one of anger at the loss of life and the loss of innocence. Philip Larkin’s 1914
describes scenes at the outbreak of war in 1914, as men queued to enlist.
Larkin, writing in 1964, looks back on a Britain that had just declared war..

Is this a war poem? It is a poem which points out the exploitation of national pride/patriotism in order to fight wars and the
consequences for ordinary people – the marriages lasting a little linger etc.
What other Written form a relatively modern perspective and reading in the 21st century – it is the futility of war that
interpretations are comes across and despite this war to end all wars and the sentiment that ‘never such innocence before or
there? since’ does not ring true. However people although still patriotic now question and challenge the reasons for
war both in art and life.
Imagery Not strong on formal imagery it paints a picture of an old fashioned ‘archaic’ era when men wore hats and
moustaches, the shops shut on Bank Holidays and people went on picnics, people named their children after
kings and queens not pop stars and footballers...

Language The language plain, simple. Some old fashioned items ‘cocoa’ and ‘twist’ , ‘farthings’ and ‘soveriegns’ ‘lark’
The languid idyllic scenes lull the reader into a false sense of calm and peace.
The repetition of ‘never such innocence’ in particular ‘innocence’ introduces an emphatic tone. This
emphasises the point of view that this should not happen again under any circumstances. You can almost
imagine Larkin banging his fist down on the table while speaking these words as his anger rises.
Form and Larkin uses varying length of lines to emulate the uneven lines in the queues he describes.
Structure He uses enjambment and caesura throughout.
The enjambment supports the languid idea of the leisure activities on the ‘August Bank Holiday lark’

Stanza One The description of the queues of men wanting to enlist reminds him of the crowds waiting to enter a
football or cricket ground – manly pastimes.
The detail chosen by the poet conveys the innocence of the time – men who are unaware of the slaughter
that was to ensue – it is just like an ‘August Bank holiday LARK’
The form of the first STANZA uneven lines mirrors the uneven lines of the men , the third line ‘stretched’
longer than the others – just like the queue
Archaic – old-fashioned which is emphasised in the second stanza.

Stanza Two The adverts, the old money names, the old fashioned children’s names more traditional which Larkin alludes
to without naming Victoria, George, Edward... These are all from another world.
All describe bring to mind a bygone era and time of holiday and calm – not war or the anticipation of war.
During the war pubs were prohibited from opening during the day.
Therefore this is an indication of memory not being reliable and interpreting the past as being better than
it actually was.
Stanza Three The beauty of the countryside, lazy days of summer, holidays, day trips, picnics.
The Domesday book had set out the boundaries of property, fields etc. but there is the foreshadowing of
another ‘doom’ which awaits the men.
The social order also seems doomed ‘servants’
Stanza Four Now the judgement
NEVER before or since in four words contains the idea that pre-1914 Britain was unique, blessed and
ignorant.
Pre WW1 an ordered society where gardens are tidy, every day is like a holiday.
The painful thought of the tidy gardens the men would never return to is emphasised by the ‘thousands of
marriages lasting a little longer’
The last line of this stanza repeats the first with the addition of ‘again’ to emphasise the point that life
would never be like this again, that people would not be so innocent and naive especially in similar
circumstances.

Overall Questions on mood, tone/change of tone, ending, Setting of a period ore era. ...