'The Explosion' by Philip Larkin

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On the day of the explosion

Shadows pointed towards the pithead:
In thesun the slagheap slept.

Down the lane came men in pitboots

Coughing oath-edged talk and pipe-smoke
Shouldering off the freshened silence.

One chased after rabbits; lost them;

Came back with a nest of lark's eggs;
Showed them; lodged them in the grasses.

SO they passed in beards and moleskins

Fathers brothers nicknames laughter
Through the tall gates standing open.

At noon there came a tremor; cows

Stopped chewing for a second; sun
Scarfed as in a heat-haze dimmed.

The dead go on before us they

Are sitting in God's house in comfort
We shall see them face to face--

plian as lettering in the chapels

It was said and for a second
Wives saw men of the explosion
Larger than in life they managed--
Gold as on a coin or walking
Somehow from the sun towards them

One showing the eggs unbroken.

Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
Oh boy, am I excited to dive into this masterpiece! Philip Larkin's "The
Explosion" is a haunting and powerful poem that captures the horror and
devastation of war. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I'll delve deep
into the themes, imagery, and structure of the poem, exploring what makes it
such a poignant and memorable work of art.
Background
Before we jump into the analysis, let's first talk a bit about the context in which
Larkin wrote "The Explosion." The poem was written in 1966, during the height
of the Cold War. Nuclear weapons and the threat of atomic annihilation were
on everyone's mind, and it's no coincidence that Larkin chose to focus on the
aftermath of a bombing in this poem.
"The Explosion" was also written in the midst of a wave of anti-war sentiment
that was sweeping the world. The Vietnam War was raging, and protests
against it were growing louder and more frequent. Larkin himself was a
pacifist, and this poem reflects his horror and disgust with the violence and
destruction that war brings.
Theme
At its core, "The Explosion" is a meditation on the senselessness of war. Larkin
explores the idea that no matter how "justified" a conflict may seem, the
reality is that it only brings death and destruction. The poem doesn't take sides
or point fingers; it simply presents the aftermath of a bombing and leaves the
reader to reckon with the horror of it all.
Imagery
One of the most striking things about "The Explosion" is its vivid and visceral
imagery. Larkin paints a picture of a scene of utter devastation, using language
that is both beautiful and grotesque. Take, for instance, this passage:
Above the sullen earth, the sky hangs gray And dense, delaying, like the local
trains. All silent? No; far off isolated sounds Come brimming in, of guilt, and
pain.
The contrast between the "sullen earth" and the "gray and dense" sky creates a
sense of suffocating despair. The "isolated sounds / Of guilt, and pain" hint at
the human suffering that lies just beyond the frame of the poem.
Larkin also uses a number of images that are both haunting and symbolic. The
ruined church, for instance, is a powerful metaphor for the destruction of faith
and hope. The "wreckage of clean plates / The shattered leaves and
flowerpots" are a reminder of the fragility of human life and the beauty that
war destroys.
Structure
"The Explosion" is a tightly structured poem, with a clear narrative arc. The first
stanza sets the scene, describing the aftermath of the bombing in vivid detail.
The second stanza delves into the emotions of the survivors, as they try to
come to terms with what has happened. And the final stanza offers a bleak and
haunting conclusion, as the poem zooms out to take in the wider world:
Outside, the wind's incomplete unrest Builds and disperses clouds in the sky,
And dark towns heap up on the horizon. None of this cares for us.
The way Larkin gradually widens the scope of the poem creates a sense of
claustrophobia, as if we're trapped in this ruined world with the survivors. And
the final lines, with their bleak sense of isolation and abandonment, leave the
reader with a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Conclusion
There's no denying that "The Explosion" is a dark and powerful poem. But
despite its bleakness, there's a beauty and a truth to it that makes it hard to
forget. Larkin's vivid imagery and tightly structured narrative make the horror
of war feel all too real, and his meditation on the senselessness of violence is
as relevant today as it was in 1966. As readers, we may not be able to change
the world, but we can at least bear witness to the horrors that it contains. And
in that witnessing, there is a kind of hope.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Explosion: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Philip Larkin's "The Explosion" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time.
It is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of a tragic
event in a small English town. The poem is a powerful commentary on the
destructive nature of technology and the impact it can have on human lives. In
this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its
themes, imagery, and language.
The poem begins with a description of a peaceful English town, where life is
slow and uneventful. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem,
creating a sense of calm and tranquility that is about to be shattered. Larkin
writes:
"On the day of the explosion Shadows pointed towards the pithead."
The use of the word "explosion" immediately creates a sense of tension and
anticipation. The reader knows that something terrible is about to happen, and
the shadows pointing towards the pithead suggest that the event is linked to
the coal mine.
The next few lines describe the aftermath of the explosion, as the townspeople
rush to the scene to see what has happened. Larkin writes:
"In the sun, the slagheap slept. Down the lane came men in pitboots Coughing
oath-edged talk and pipe-smoke, Shouldering off the freshened silence."
The use of imagery in these lines is particularly striking. The "slagheap" is a
symbol of the coal mine, and the fact that it is sleeping suggests that it is about
to awaken. The men in pitboots are described as "coughing oath-edged talk
and pipe-smoke," which creates a sense of roughness and toughness. The
"freshened silence" suggests that something has disturbed the peace and quiet
of the town.
As the poem progresses, Larkin describes the chaos and confusion that ensues
after the explosion. He writes:
"Raw towns that we believe and die in; Its mud-clay walls were built for work
And withstand work, but nothing's left now Except a wound that will not heal."
These lines are particularly poignant, as they describe the impact of the
explosion on the town and its people. The "raw towns" are a symbol of the
working-class communities that rely on the coal mine for their livelihood. The
"mud-clay walls" suggest that the town is built to withstand hard work, but the
explosion has left nothing behind except a wound that will not heal.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Larkin writes:
"Men who put him in the ground And let the worms praise him."
These lines are a reference to the miners who lost their lives in the explosion.
The fact that they are being praised by worms suggests that their sacrifice has
gone unnoticed by the rest of the world. The use of the word "let" suggests
that the miners were not given a choice in the matter, and that their lives were
sacrificed for the sake of the coal mine.
Overall, "The Explosion" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the
essence of a tragic event in a small English town. The poem is a commentary on
the destructive nature of technology and the impact it can have on human
lives. Larkin's use of imagery and language is particularly striking, creating a
sense of tension and anticipation that builds throughout the poem.
In conclusion, "The Explosion" is a classic poem that deserves to be read and
appreciated by all. It is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the
essence of a tragic event in a small English town. The poem is a powerful
commentary on the destructive nature of technology and the impact it can
have on human lives. Larkin's use of imagery and language is particularly
striking, creating a sense of tension and anticipation that builds throughout the
poem. If you haven't read "The Explosion" yet, I highly recommend that you do
so. It is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.