AS English Language & Literature Autumn Term 1 assessment task:
The poem is a sad reflection based on the imagined recollections of the times just before the World War I. It shows a sad picture of society during the time of World War I. Larkin has, quite strangely opted Roman numerals for the title of this poem. That makes the title of the poem instantly capture our attention and makes us ready to read something unusual. Another impact perhaps in store of this title is to show it something relating to olden times. At the same time the title of the poem also suggests a mythological sense. Using the year 1914 for the title of the poem makes it the poem a literary war memorial to commemorate the likes of people before the horrors of World War One. The poem consists of for 8-line stanzas of which only the fourth and eighth lines rhyme, thus creating, two ‘long uneven lines’ in each stanza. Given that this is also the text of his opening lines, this could be an intended pun by Larkin. ‘Those long uneven lines’ describes the people that are standing in line ‘as patiently’ as they can ‘outside the Oval or Villa Park.’ The Oval is a famous London Cricket Ground, and Villa Park is the Birmingham Football Ground. The people who would be standing outside of these venues would be eager and anxious to get inside so they could watch the day's sporting event. This image is also reminiscent of the men lining up outside of the recruiting office around the beginning of WWI; men were anxious and eager to serve their country. Looking at the long lines of people, all you could see were the tops of hats, and the sun glaring down on the ‘archaic’ moustached faces of men, smiling as if they were on ‘an August bank Holiday lark.’ The men seemed blissfully unaware of what they were signing up for when they enlisted; the irony of them grinning is that soon they will long for the days