1. Philip Larkin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4RCN9CWf5g
The Trees
154
Philip Larkin

2. Philip Larkin Born 1922 – died 1985 of throat cancer
Had a stammer as a young child.
Graduated from Oxford university in 1943 and became a librarian.
He was offered, but declined the position of Poet Laureate in 1984.
Known for having “glum-accuracy” in his poetry, and often including ideas of death and fatalism.

3. Overview of The Trees
Relates the life of trees to human experience. Trees dying and coming into leaf every year parallels the idea of humans overcoming their mistakes and starting new chapters of their life. But that like in rings of grain in trees, the marks of past experiences still remain as memories. Shows that each chapter contains it own trials and tribulations. Hiding age

4. Releasing tension of old memories
Beginning of new life
personification
similie
The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said; The recent buds relax and spread, Their greenness is a kind of grief.
Message is so clear to the speaker that
The trees seem almost human
Trees are communicating, making a statement
Releasing tension of old memories
Recent-new and not yet solidified ideals.
Grieving the loss of a past life

5. Is it that they are born again And we grow old. No, they die too
Is it that they are born again And we grow old? No, they die too. Their yearly trick of looking new Is written down in rings of grain.
Old age? Or death of emotions.
Deception. Only appear to be young, link with the human tendency to pretend to be okay.
Possessive – belongs to the trees. ‘Trick’ is inaccessible to humans.
personification
A cycle/pattern. Happens again and again.
Recorded forever, previous lives leave marks.
Humans - a habit of hiding their emotions but they are still there.

6. Shows the speaker is about to change the tone in this stanza.
Ongoing, more emphasis on the second syllable.
Majestic, everlasting.
Yet still the unresting castles thresh – 9 syllables In fullgrown thickness every May. Last year is dead, they seem to say, Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
Springtime – new life
Gone, over, done with
Onomatopoeia – afresh, repetition of ‘ss’ and ‘sh’ sound.

7. Form
A-B-B-A rhyme scheme – reflects the idea of life beginning over again.
8 syllables per line excluding line 9 which has 9 syllables.
8 is traditionally a symbol of infinity, which connects to the theme of an on going cycle of life.

8. Language
Written in 3rd Person, shows how people are detached from the natural world. Or that the trees are keeping secrets and we are excluded. “Their yearly trick of looking new”
Personification of the trees – by personifying the trees, people can relate the experience of the trees back to their own experiences.
Repetition of “afresh” echoes the idea of a cycle. (note: onomatopoeia).

9. Tone/Theme
Overcoming all obstacles, moving forward, not grieving for the past, loss, ageing.
Teaching us a lesson, of how to learn from trees and their ability to lose their leaves and begin anew. “afresh”
“their yearly trick of looking new”- idea of hiding their pain.
3rd stanza – first line has 9 syllables shows a change in tone, from loss to acceptance.

10. Comparisons One Art – Elizabeth Bishop
Loss
One Art – Elizabeth Bishop
From The Triumph of Time – A.C.Swinburne
A Dream – William Allingham
Nature
The Trees are Down – Charlotte Mew