CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

THIS BE
THE
VERSE
by Philip Larkin
Presentor: Andrei S. Moreno
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn

By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.

THIS BE THE VERSE

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
Who is the
persona in the
poem?
Addressee?

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 What is the
subject of the
poem?
INFLICTED
EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
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 What is the
context of
the poem?
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What are the

thoughts/feelings/
impressions of the
persona?
ANGER
RESENTMENT
EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE
Line by line
discussion of the
poem's
literal/logical LINE 1
“They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
sense.
LINE 2
They may not mean to, but they do.”

THIS BE THE VERSE

Line by line
discussion of the
poem's
literal/logical LINE 3
“They fill you with the faults they had
sense.
LINE 4
And add some extra, just for you”

THIS BE THE VERSE

Line by line
discussion of the
poem's
literal/logical LINE 5
“But they were fucked up in their turn
sense.
LINE 6
By fools in old-style hats and coats,”

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Line by line
discussion of the
poem's
literal/logical LINE 7
“Who half the time were soppy-stern
sense.
LINE 8
And half at one another’s throats.”

THIS BE THE VERSE

Line by line
discussion of the
poem's
literal/logical LINE 9
“Man hands on misery to man.
sense.
LINE 10
It deepens like a coastal shelf.”

THIS BE THE VERSE

Line by line
discussion of the
poem's
literal/logical LINE 11
“Get out as early as you can,
sense.
LINE 12
And don’t have any kids yourself.’

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 Discuss the
poem's
metaphoric
meaning

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Discuss the poem's
imagery at length
and how it conveys
layers of meanings
 Discuss the
social/political/
historical/psychological
background of the
poem.
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fin.