Critical Assessment of Poetry of Philip Larkin

Abstract

In the year 1922, Philip Larkin was born in Coventry, which is located in England. In addition to finishing with First Class Honors in English, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John's College, Oxford, where he also became friends with the author and poet Kingsley Amis. After completing his undergraduate degree, Larkin went on to pursue professional courses in order to become a librarian. He began his career in Shropshire and Leicester, continued it at Queen's College in Belfast, and ended it as the librarian at the University of Hull. He worked in libraries the whole of his life. Not only did Larkin produce volumes of poetry, but he also wrote and published two novels, Jill (1946) and A Girl in Winter (1947), as well as jazz music criticism, essays, and review articles. The latter were compiled into two books: All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961-1968 (1970; 1985) and Required Writing: Miscellaneous Pieces 1955-1982. Both were published in 1970 and 1985 respectively (1984). Before his death in 1985, he was considered by many to be "England's other Poet Laureate." He was one of the most well-known poets to emerge from England in the decades after World War II. In point of fact, when the post of laureate became available in 1984, numerous poets and critics advocated for Larkin's election to the position; nevertheless, Larkin chose to stay out of the spotlight.