Larkin Revision Cards: "Here" and "Mr Bleaney"

Language

• Repeated verb "swerving"- hints at marginalisation- lack of constraint
• Contrasting lexical sets in successive stanzas- natural landscape vs. consumerism
• Frequent compound adjectives for simplicity and precision- reflective of ordinary life

Themes

• Social class
• Consumerism
• Isolation
• Passing of time

Phonology

• short vowel sounds- arrival in Hull- "terminate" nature of city
• elongated vowel sounds- nature- emphasises gentle beauty
• Regular but alternating rhyme scheme- mirror image for contrast.

Structure

• Sense of journey
• Structure repeated in each stanza for contrast
• Each stanza contains lists and pairing

Grammar/ Syntax

• Fronted conjuctions reflect multiple elements of the scene
• Pairing of nouns in second stanza contrasts historic and intriguing with everyday, mundane

Narrative Stance

• 3rd person, intrusive and condescending

Language

• Lexical set of confinement
• Noun and noun phrases associated with ordinariness and monotony
• Colloquial expressions

Themes

• Death, isolation, position in society

Structure

• Movement from concrete descriptions to abstract ideas
• Description of the room reflects the life of Mr Bleaney and at times the persona
• 7 stanzas with turning point at beginning of last stanza (6)

Grammar/ Syntax

• Direct address
• Elliptical listing of noun phrases
• Post modification

Narrative stance

• 1st person (subjective)
• Employs use of 3rd person narrative within this framework
• Final line implies doubt- dialogue with the reader

Phonology

• Frequent repetition of fricatives, plosives and sibilance- often paired
• Iambic pentameter- Monotony
• Alternating ABAB rhyme scheme