Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Aubade" by Philip Larkin was first published in 1977 in his collection of poetry, "High Windows."

"Aubade" is a poem about the fear of death and the emptiness of life. The speaker of the poem wakes up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and begins to reflect on his mortality. The poem describes the speaker's increasing sense of dread and anxiety as he contemplates the inevitability of his own death. He considers the idea of an afterlife, but ultimately concludes that there is nothing beyond death and that life is ultimately meaningless.

Poetic Elements:

Theme: The central theme of the poem is the fear of death and the emptiness of life.

Imagery: The poem contains several vivid images, such as the "half-formed ghost" that haunts the speaker and the "tide" of darkness that seems to be closing in on him.

Tone: The tone of the poem is bleak and despairing, as the speaker confronts the reality of his mortality and the emptiness of his life.

Diction: The language used in the poem is simple and direct, with few complex words or phrases. This helps to convey the immediacy and intimacy of the speaker's message.

Figurative Language: The poem contains several examples of figurative language, such as the use of metaphor in "I work all day, and get half-drunk at night" to describe the speaker's sense of emptiness.

Symbolism: The darkness that surrounds the speaker can be seen as a symbol of death and the fear of the unknown.

Structure: The poem is written in free verse, without a consistent rhyme or meter. This allows the poet to convey the natural and organic quality of the speaker's message.

Sound: The poem has a musical quality, with the use of repetition and rhythm creating a sense of harmony and balance.

Point of view: The poem is written from the perspective of the speaker, who is reflecting on his own mortality and the emptiness of life.

Form: The poem is divided into six stanzas of varying lengths, each exploring a different aspect of the speaker's message. The use of stanzas helps to create a sense of progression and build tension. "Aubade" is written in free verse and does not have a consistent rhyme scheme.

In summary, "Aubade" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the fear of death and the emptiness of life. Through its use of language, imagery, and symbolism, the poem captures the bleak and despairing tone of the speaker's message and reminds us of the fragility of human existence.

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