‘Ambulances’ Philip Larkin ++++++++++ ‘Ambulances’ Philip Larkin ++++++++++++

Repels enquiry, shut off from everyone – living vs. dying Secret nature of what is occurring – distance separates living from understanding- something sacred/mysterious happening which is inexplicable to those not near death. Repels enquiry, shut off from everyone – living vs. dying Metaphor – describes the careful journey through the traffic to the patient, suggesting the perilous metaphorical journey between life + death for the patient. Simile – religious connotations suggests privacy or separation from others/life? Transferred epithet – describes sound of ambulance – suggests this is all that can be heard – all pervading – all affected Closed like confessionals, they thread Loud noons of cities, giving back none of the glances they absorb. Light glossy grey, arms on a plaque, They come to rest at any kerb: All streets in time are visited. Describes their appearance – irony? That their appearance is so dull/ unnoticeable but the effect they have on people is profound. Every one looks at them. Morbid fascination know that one day they will incur the same fate. Connotations of death/peace? Final rest etc. Plural- common scene – all will be affected – link to word chocice in ‘any’ and ‘all’ Lexical choice – suggests inevitable, unavoidable – and explains why people on street are so afraid – they know that one day this will be their own fate.

Then children strewn on steps or road, Or women coming from the shops Lexical choice – connotations of carelessness/discarded/scattered – random collection of people linked by death – juxtaposition of ‘children’ and ‘strewn’ – suggests even children’s lives can be taken – death affects all. Alliteration – speeds up rhythm of poem – depicts the brevity of life – how quickly it is over Contrast in colours – connotations – white – illness, fear, entrapment + red – blood- suggests loss of blood (white) = loss of life Random collection of people are gathered together suggests the irregularity of life – just happen to be there as similarly death is random. In this normality of people coming home from streets – something alien/unexpected is inserted into the scene causing unrest/unease Then children strewn on steps or road, Or women coming from the shops Past smells of different dinners, see A wild white face that overtops Red stretcher-blankets momently As it is carried in and stowed, Suggests everyone's death/end is dissimilar (manner of death) - all must end is inevitable. Brief glimpse of patient – suggests speed at which life can be taken/lost Dehumanisation – reduces an individual in this extremity of life/death to an object of observation Word choice – suggests impersonal nature of body being placed in ambulance – connotations of hauling luggage – suggests the frequency paramedics do this – have become detached

And sense the solving emptiness That lies just under all we do, Alliteration – again speeds up the rhythm – conveying the brevity of life Revealing key theme of poem – meaninglessness of life. No point to anything – all ends the same. Larkin’s answer to the existential question of heaven/hell – death is the end. Connotations of death – final laying out of the body – again whole poem has been clouded by Larkin’s musings on death, also has affected people on street and us through reading poem– universal effect. Suddenly realise the truth – can’t avoid death – can only contemplate for a ‘second’ being faced with our own mortality – fear of what will come. Repetition of ‘and’ – evokes the monotony/weariness of life as death will always and continually occur. Suggests the close proximity of death – as this individual’s situation is described And sense the solving emptiness That lies just under all we do, And for a second get it whole, So permanent and blank and true, The fastened doors recede. Poor soul, They whisper at their own distress; Connotations of emptiness/ loneliness – summing up meaninglessness of life Universal truth = mortality Doors closing – metaphorically depicts the ‘closing’ of the life within Pessimistic yet realistic – don’t feel real sympathy for each other – too preoccupied with our own grief – of what will come in the future – thus we retreat into our own selfish fears Reflect on their own mortality – how small and trivial our own concerns are when faced with the bleak/inescapable facts of physical change + decay Whisper – onomatopoeia – shushed/sincere/solemn afraid to admit this out loud (will make it more real) – they know it will happen to them too – ‘their own distress’

For borne away in deadened air May go the sudden shut of loss Lexical choice – suggests all present at the scene have been irrevocably altered/tainted by their proximity to death even the very air has been imbued with death Pun on the short distance between life/death Further exemplifies the way the ambulance represents a separate world of its own and in doing so prefigures that other closed box – coffin (closed, fastened doors) ‘shut’ also has connotations of life ending/closing. Alliteration – ‘s’ – soft. sibilance – sounds like hissing - exhaling of last breaths? Again as poem progresses patient becomes increasingly close to death For borne away in deadened air May go the sudden shut of loss Round something nearly at an end, And what cohered in it across The years, the unique random blend Of families and fashions, there Lexical choice – very little to keep people going through life – again lack of meaning/point. Metaphorically conveying the proximity of death. life death = metaphorical journey conveyed by literal journey of ambulance. Suggests that there is very little Enjambment – again speeds up rhythm of poem – suggesting brevity of life. Also suggests time passing from the familiar (life) to the unknown/solitude (death) Contrast/paradox. Irony of all that holds life together- juxtaposition of the profundity of family life vs. triviality/banality of fashion – suggests they are both inconsequential in greater scheme of life/death. Depicts how little there really is in life to make it meaningful – all Larkin can think of is family and fashion (almost mocking/sarcastic tone here.) or does it suggest the commonality of what we all have but will ultimately lose in death? Triviality of life vs. profundity of mortality/death Is Larkin being genuine here or ironic about all that constitutes life?

Joy / happiness of the end to life? – ‘loosen’ – connotations of unravelling – life = thread – Greek Mythology etc sewn by the 3 sisters of fate – cut the thread at point where death will occur. Suggests closeness of death – tenuous grasp on life is almost at an end – nothing more that can be done to keep them attached/connected to life. At last begins to loosen. Far from the exchange of love to lie Unreachable inside a room The traffic parts to let go by Brings closer what is left to come, And dulls to distance all we are. Conveys how alone this person now is – no-one to offer proclamations of love or they remain unheard as they are too ill to focus on the words Theme of loneliness – cannot be comforted in death – alone. Distance between the living and dying cannot be breached – cannot communicate Compares ambulance’s literal journey to journey/passage metaphorically through life. Through illness and subsequent death identity fades ‘dulls to distance’ – all that makes us who we are becomes meaningless – again Larkin’s view on emptiness of life. Again separates (‘parts’) living from the dying – people shun the ambulance – harbinger of death? Seem afraid of being associated with it – represents carrier of death etc. Regular rhythm/structure to poem – suggests regularity/inevitability of death – suggested by motif of ambulance – everyday occurrence – similar to death Sombre/serious atmosphere throughout poem to convey Larkin’s contemplation on life and death

Key Themes: loneliness/isolation that death brings An encouraging and motivating view!

Brevity/meaninglessness of life

Consider the presentation of death/passing of life in ‘At Grass’ and ‘Ambulances.’ Identify key areas of agreement and/or disagreement in their presentation. You should support your answer by referring to important ideas in the passage. 5 U/A

Death = private/not many around in final moments Disagreements Agreements Death comes only when you want it in AG compared with no choice/any moment in A Death = private/not many around in final moments Death comes peacefully/gradually in AG compared to immediately in A. Life = a journey culminating in death. Always have company as life comes to a close in AG compared to on own/isolated in A Acceptance of life passing in AG vs. fear/terror of it ending in A. Death comes only in old age in AG vs. even the young are taken in A. Life is meaningful – enjoy it in AG vs. life is ultimately pointless in A.

Choose two poems in which differing stances are adopted on the same subject. Show how the stances are revealed and discuss which treatment you find more effective.