An analysis of 'As Bad As A Mile' by Phillip Larkin
A language-focused analysis of 'As Bad As A Mile' By Phillip Larkin
('As Bad As A Mile' depicts an individual that has bitten an apple, attempts to throw it in the bin, and misses.) By utilising an AAA/BBB rhyme scheme, Larkin presents a simple reflection on the triviality of failure. Key themes include existentialism (the meaning of life), nihilism (the view that everything is meaningless because nothing matters.
The title of this poem in particular echoes the idiom 'a miss is as good as a mile'. In the poem, the speaker bites an apple, attempts to throw it in the bin and misses. Thus, the reader immediately senses a pessimistic tone, and wonders if the poem will contain themes such as futility and negative emotions.
Shied- May be a reference to a coconut shy; a game which also involves throwing an object at a target. However, fairground games such as this are notoriously hard to win. Therefore, hinting at the pessimistic writer's tenor. However, this may also be interpreted as the action of shying away from something. Therefore, it may also serve as a critique of human nature, and how modern society shies away from failure.
Failure spreading back up the arm- Perhaps an allusion to a heart attack. Larkin may have included this reference to encourage the reader to empathise with the feelings of failure. By alluding to heart failure, it may be theorised that Larkin successfully attempted to summarise the hyperbolic notion and universality of illness, thus creating further empathy and generalizability to every individual.
The apple unbitten in the palm- This may be a reference to innate sin, and by extension, innate failure.
AO5-
-F. Scott Fitzgerald: The necessity to struggle/ the futility of effort.
-John Green: Isn't it absurd how temporary our lives are despite our efforts to feel permanent?
Possible links to Duffy and other Larkin poems (AO4):
-Brothers (D)
-The Captain Of The 1964 Top Of The Form Team(D)
-The Cliché Kid(D)
-Afternoons(L)
-An Arundel Tomb(L)
-Dockery And Son(L)
-First Sight(L)
('As Bad As A Mile' depicts an individual that has bitten an apple, attempts to throw it in the bin, and misses.) By utilising an AAA/BBB rhyme scheme, Larkin presents a simple reflection on the triviality of failure. Key themes include existentialism (the meaning of life), nihilism (the view that everything is meaningless because nothing matters.
The title of this poem in particular echoes the idiom 'a miss is as good as a mile'. In the poem, the speaker bites an apple, attempts to throw it in the bin and misses. Thus, the reader immediately senses a pessimistic tone, and wonders if the poem will contain themes such as futility and negative emotions.
Shied- May be a reference to a coconut shy; a game which also involves throwing an object at a target. However, fairground games such as this are notoriously hard to win. Therefore, hinting at the pessimistic writer's tenor. However, this may also be interpreted as the action of shying away from something. Therefore, it may also serve as a critique of human nature, and how modern society shies away from failure.
Failure spreading back up the arm- Perhaps an allusion to a heart attack. Larkin may have included this reference to encourage the reader to empathise with the feelings of failure. By alluding to heart failure, it may be theorised that Larkin successfully attempted to summarise the hyperbolic notion and universality of illness, thus creating further empathy and generalizability to every individual.
The apple unbitten in the palm- This may be a reference to innate sin, and by extension, innate failure.
AO5-
-F. Scott Fitzgerald: The necessity to struggle/ the futility of effort.
-John Green: Isn't it absurd how temporary our lives are despite our efforts to feel permanent?
Possible links to Duffy and other Larkin poems (AO4):
-Brothers (D)
-The Captain Of The 1964 Top Of The Form Team(D)
-The Cliché Kid(D)
-Afternoons(L)
-An Arundel Tomb(L)
-Dockery And Son(L)
-First Sight(L)
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