The Malham Bird

Analysis of The Malham Bird by Dannie Abse

Postcard to his Wife

Analysis of Postcard to his Wife by Dannie Abse

Terrible Angels

Analysis of Terrible Angels by Dannie Abse

The Death of Aunt Alice

Analysis of The Death of Aunt Alice by Dannie Abse

A Wall

Analysis of A Wall by Dannie Abse

Red Balloon

Analysis of Red Balloon by Dannie Abse

Figure of 8

Analysis of Figure of 8 by Dannie Abse

The Game

Analysis of The Game by Dannie Abse

Two Photographs

Analysis of Two Photographs by Dannie Abse

I'm really glad my camera is so good that you can read my notes. It really does help.

Sons

Analysis of Sons by Dannie Abse

Imitations

Analysis of Imitations by Dannie Abse

Welsh Valley Cinema

Analysis of Welsh Valley Cinema by Dannie Abse

In The Theatre

Analysis of In The Theatre by Dannie Abse

The Mistake

Analysis of The Mistake by Dannie Abse

The Boasts of Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

Analysis of The Boasts of Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd by Dannie Abse

Return to Cardiff

Analysis of Return to Cardiff by Dannie Abse

I don't know if I'm just not very good at finding good stuff to analyse, or if there's actually not as much to write about these poems, compared to the Larkin poems.

Down the M4

Analysis of Down the M4 by Dannie Abse

Leaving Cardiff

Analysis of Leaving Cardiff by Dannie Abse

I was going to type out some notes, but they would be exactly the same as the ones shown on the picture of my written notes.

Self's the Man

Analysis of Self's the Man by Philip Larkin

- Appears to show a negative view of women. "He married a woman to stop her getting away/ Now she's there all day". Arnold is stuck with this woman whom he regrets marrying, he didn't know what he was getting himself in to. His money "She takes as her perk", making her sound like a prostitute. When he's not "wasting his life on work", she commands him to "Put a screw in the wall", making her seem controlling.

- Actually, the money goes towards "the kiddies' clobber and drier/ And the electric fire", which he would surely miss if she didn't pay for them.

- "And if it was such a mistake/ He still did it for his own sake" - Arnold married the woman because he didn't want to be alone without her, so would probably be in a worse position without her around.

- Persona compares himself to Arnold: "So he and I are the same,/ Only I'm a better hand/ At knowing what I can stand" - knows the deal breakers that would stop him getting married.

Ignorance

Analysis of Ignorance by Philip Larkin

"Strange to know nothing, never to be sure"

- Uncertainty towards beliefs and what is believed to be true.

"Someone must know."

 - Questioning tone, doesn't like not understanding, almost desperate need to know.

"Strange to be ignorant of the way things work"

- People take things (life) for granted and don't try to understand any deeper meanings.

"Willingness to change"

 - People will change their lives to adjust to the world they know nothing about.

"Even to wear such knowledge - for our flesh/ Surrounds us with its decisions"

- We're not in control of what we do and believe.

"And yet spend all our life on imprecisions"

 - Everything we think - like our explanations for life - aren't correct.

"When we start to die/ Have no idea why"

- We die still ignorant of life and the truth is never revealed to us.