A Stylistic Analysis Of Philip Larkin’s Selected Poems Wants And Days

Abstract

In this study, the attempt is to stylistically analyse two of Philip Larkin’s short poems, Wants (1964) and Days (1955), so as to demonstrate how significant the use of foregrounding is in creating meaning and addressing existential and complex themes in poetry. The analysis aims also at showing the different types and levels of foregrounding, mainly repetition and linguistic deviation, used by Larkin. Hence, the analysis endeavours to account for the semantic, graphological, phonological, morphological, and lexical deviations in the selected poems to explain how such deviations could impact and consolidate the overall meaning of the poem and help readers understand and interpret it accordingly. The scrutiny also seeks to uncover the reasons behind the use of repetition in Larkin’s poems. The study reveals a strong and significant impact of foregrounding on comprehending and interpreting the two poems which are short, linguistically accessible, yet thematically loaded and profound.