Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Larkin’s poem “A Study of Reading Habits” offers a darkly humorous and cynical reflection on the evolution of the speaker’s relationship with books. Through three distinct stanzas, Larkin explores themes of escapism, disillusionment, and the often harsh reality that literature can sometimes fail to shield one from.

The poem begins with the speaker’s childhood, a time when “getting my nose in a book / Cured most things short of school.” This line captures the universal experience of using books as a refuge from the mundane or unpleasant aspects of daily life. The act of reading is portrayed as almost medicinal, providing a much-needed escape. The speaker even acknowledges the physical toll it took, “It was worth ruining my eyes,” indicating the deep immersion and dedication to this escape. The books allowed him to “keep cool” and imagine himself as powerful, able to “deal out the old right hook / To dirty dogs twice my size.” This imagery evokes a sense of empowerment and fantasy where the speaker, through his imagination, overcomes his perceived inadequacies.

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on his adolescent years, where the fantasies have become darker and more violent. “Later, with inch-thick specs, / Evil was just my lark” suggests that his escapism has intensified and perhaps taken on a more sinister tone. The “inch-thick specs” symbolize his continued and perhaps excessive reading. The fantasies now involve a more menacing self-image: “Me and my coat and fangs / Had ripping times in the dark.” Here, Larkin plays with the trope of the teenage anti-hero or villain, indulging in darker, more rebellious fantasies. The line “The women I clubbed with sex! / I broke them up like meringues” is particularly jarring, highlighting a misogynistic and violent streak in these fantasies. This hyperbolic portrayal serves to underscore the intensity and perhaps the absurdity of the speaker’s imagined exploits, emphasizing a disconnection from reality.

The final stanza brings a stark shift in tone and perspective. The speaker, now older, expresses disillusionment with reading: “Don’t read much now: the dude / Who lets the girl down before / The hero arrives, the chap / Who’s yellow and keeps the store / Seem far too familiar.” This passage suggests a disenchantment with the repetitive and predictable nature of literary tropes. The speaker no longer finds solace or excitement in books, seeing through the formulaic plots and clichéd characters. The concluding line, “Get stewed: / Books are a load of crap,” is a blunt rejection of his former refuge. The phrase “Get stewed” implies turning to alcohol as an alternative escape, suggesting a sense of nihilism and the ultimate failure of books to provide lasting comfort or meaning.

Larkin’s use of colloquial language and a conversational tone throughout the poem adds to its accessibility and impact. The straightforward, often blunt diction reflects the speaker’s evolving attitudes toward reading and life itself. The rhyme scheme and rhythm maintain a steady, almost monotonous flow, mirroring the speaker’s journey from childhood enthusiasm to adult cynicism.

In summary, “A Study of Reading Habits” by Philip Larkin is a sardonic examination of how the speaker’s engagement with books evolves from a source of empowerment and fantasy to a point of disillusionment. Larkin captures the bittersweet reality that the escapism offered by literature can sometimes fail to address the deeper discontents of life. The poem ultimately suggests that the fantasies and comforts found in books may not hold up against the harshness and complexities of real life, leaving the speaker to confront a more disillusioned and skeptical worldview.

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