Understanding ideas of time, family, and pessimism in Larkin's 'Afternoons'
I can explain what I think ‘Afternoons’ is about and support my opinion with evidence.
Understanding ideas of time, family, and pessimism in Larkin's 'Afternoons'
I can explain what I think ‘Afternoons’ is about and support my opinion with evidence.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Larkin arguably presents us with a cynical view of family life in the poem.
- This cynicism could be reflective of his mother’s attitudes towards marriage, which she shared with Larkin
- The passage of time is a key theme in the poem; Larkin arguably presents time as a threat to the young parents.
- Larkin arguably presents the monotony of family life as unfulfilling and arduous.
- Larkin presents the young couples as emotionally-distant, their responsibilities have forced them apart.
Keywords
Pessimistic - seeing the worst in things or people and believing that the worst will happen
Cynicism - being distrustful of people - believing the worst about their intentions and their integrity
To stifle - to restrict or restrain something
To dilute - to make something weaker
To expose - to uncover or reveal the truth about something
Common misconception
Students often think that Larkin must have had a hostile relationship with his family because of this poem and some of his other poems.
Larkin didn't have a hostile relationship with his parents - he was just a cynical man who held quite bleak views. This doesn't mean he hated his parents - he just recognised that people are products of their own parents.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
believing that the worst will happen
being distrustful of people's intentions
to restrict or restrain something
to make something weaker
to uncover or reveal the truth about something