PhilipLarkin
Thetrumpet’svoice, loudandauthoritative,
Drawsmeamomenttothelightedglass
Towatchthedancers—allundertwenty-five—
Shiftingintently, facetoflushedface,
Solemnlyonthebeatofhappiness.
—OrsoIfancy, sensingthesmokeandsweat,
?
Butthen, whybeinthere? Sex, yes, butwhat
Issex? Surelytothinkthelion’sshare
Ofhappinessisfoundbycouples—sheer
Inaccuracy, asfarasI’mconcerned.
Whatcallsmeisthatlifted, rough-tonguedbell
(Art, ifyoulike) whoseindividualsound
InsistsItooamindividual.
Itspeaks; Ihear; othersmayhearaswell,
Butnotforme, norIforthem; andso
,
Believingthis; andtheymaultoandfro,
Believingthat; andbotharesatisfied,
.
.
1)Whatisthesettingofthepoem?
2)Whatattractedthespeakerinthepoemtoadancinghall? Didheenterit?
3)Didthespeakerlikethemusicplayedinthedancinghall? Whyorwhynot?
4)Didthespeakerfeelsadandlonelycomparedwiththehappyyoungcouples?
5)Doesthepoemreflecttheerathatthepoetlivedin?
: ’.
Notes
? (1816-1855):ShewasanEnglishnovelistandpoet, theeldestofthethreeBront? sisters, .
:Itisthefavoriteromantictaleofanorphanwhomakesajourneytoadulthoodaccompaniedbytheunkindnessofrelatives, thehorrorsofboardingschool, -to-richesstory, , despitenothavingverymuchgoingforitintermsofoverallplot.
(1874-1965):Hewasawell-knownEnglishplaywright, ’sSchoolinCanterbury, studiedpaintinginParis, , , , TheMoonandSixpence, , andreputedly, thehighestpaidauthorduringthe1930s.
