Blog #1
Blog #1:
Part 1, Reflection
Thinking about literature, and having read Larkin's "This Be the Verse," do you think the poem fits some criteria for "great literature"? For example, do you think Larkin is dealing with a universal theme?
After the discussion online regarding the difference between literature and popular fiction, I feel that great literature entails thought provoking words that can make a reader sit and analyse a poem for hours. Larkin’s “This Be the Verse,” is a prime example of great literature because each line continues to build a picture that is required to be broken down in order to understand what this poem is trying to say.
I like the fact that Larkin’s poem is read at a higher tone and the words are said lightly as they flow throughout the poem. Although the topic is heavy the poem’s tone is quick and spoken in a higher pitch which makes me think of a clown, playful and fun. The language is put in a playful way so that the reader can be entertained even though the words are dark and send a warning to the reader.
The warning would be the last two lines of Larkin’s poem:
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
The message is serious after thinking about the pictures the words make up. I feel Larkin is dealing with a universal theme because he addresses concepts about life that can apply to everyone, like peace and love within ones self.
I believe that Larkin's "This Be the Verse" does have many qualities that are necessary to be considered great literature.
Part 2, Reading ahead: Next week, we will be talking about theme. You will need to read Headrick's chapter on theme along with "Simple Recipes." How does this story deepen and complicate the theme of Larkin's poem?
"Simple Recipes" by Madeleine Thien, deepens the theme of Larkin’s poem “This be the verse” because she describes in her story why Larkin’s advice to reject parenthood is complicated.
In “Simple Recipes” it describes how parents and children love each other and create family by sharing their love with others. Although children “find” themselves as they grow into adults, it can cause family difficulties but inevitable the parents are the people who will shape their child because: you have to look at where you’ve come from to know where you are going... This story by Madeleine Thien can be linked to Larkin’s poem because he is warning the parent of these tribulations between parent and child and to avoid this difficulty by avoiding it all together.
In Larkin’s poem it is true that inevitably a child will be marked by the way the parent raises their child and it’s up to the child how the relationship with their parent will be embraced or rejected. Although Larkin expresses distaste for parenthood with good reason, Thien awakens us to the beauty of such a relationship that comes with hardships but how it's what makes a relationship so overwhelmingly beautiful.