"Sexual intercourse began
in nineteen sixty-three
(Which was rather late for me)-"
The poem which most appealed to me was Annus Mirabilis by Philip Larkin. What interested me the most about the poem was the short, rhyming lines. I myself, often write overly detailed and so there is a kind of beauty which attracts me to concise works. The density that overtakes the small lines makes the words all the more powerful. Furthermore, my interest was sparked when the word "Beatles'" struck my eye. As did the odd punctuation, such as having an entire line be in parentheses. One thing that surprised me about the poem was the title. I read the title after reading the poem and was confused as to how the Latin phrase connected to the poem. After some research I discovered that the phrase means "year of wonders," which only added to my fascination with the work.
Within the poem Larkin employs an end of line ABBAB line rhyme scheme. This rhyme scheme is unique and works through the use of enjambment, making line transitions smooth. Alliteration is also visible throughout the work on various lines, it is present on the fifth line of stanza 2 and 3. These lines are longer in syllables in comparison to the other lines in the stanza and the alliteration adds intensity to these longer lines. The use of repetition is also visible within the work. Larkin repeats the first stanza again as the last stanza, changing only the first line.
The things which I love about this poem is its sense of nostalgia, specifically nostalgia for a period of freedom. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion which can be difficult to express without sounding whiney, I think that Larkin effectively portrays this. One aspect of the poem which confuses me is the third stanza. While feel I have grasped the other stanzas' function and content within the poem, this stanza seems out of place in comparison. I am unsure at what Larkin means by both "quarrel" and the phrase " And every life became."
I, too, found this poem to be the most interesting, simply because of its intriguing opening line of "Sexual intercourse began in nineteen sixty-three." Philip Larkin's poetic voice is casual and nostalgic; he seems to be reliving his glory days. Burroway states on page 296 that "the medium of poetry is the human body: the column of air inside the chest, shaped into signifying sounds in the larynx and the mouth. In this sense, poetry is just as physical an act as dancing." This appears especially true in the ABBAB rhyme scheme that causes the words to flow in a way that helped me to better understand (or to better focus) the context of the poem, and exactly what the speaker is addressing. The reference to the Beatles appeals to the act of dancing, making the poem even more fascinating.
ReplyDeleteFrom the opening line, I expected the poem to be solely about sex. But it seemed to be more about memories than sex. Or perhaps Larkin used sex to juxtapose memories. Larkin ends the poem in full circle with the first stanza as the final stanza except for a line. I think the circle helps to bring the poem together, creating an end to the memory (at that moment). The change of the opening line demonstrates the beginning of 1963 and the rehash of 1963- the 1st stanza is the start to the memory; whereas the final stanza is the end, almost like a person telling a story.