MCMXIV by Philip Larkin, Analysis, Summary & Text

Overview: "MCMXIV" is a poem written by Philip Larkin, published in 1964. The title of the poem is the Roman numeral for 1914, the year in which World War I began. The poem describes the innocence and naivety of the pre-war era in England, focusing on the summer of 1914. Larkin portrays a vivid image of the people and places of that time, highlighting the contrast between the carefree, leisurely life of the English people and the impending darkness of the war that would change their lives forever. The poem is considered to be one of Larkin's most powerful works and a poignant commentary on the loss of innocence and the devastation of war.

MCMXIV (1964): Poem Text

Those long uneven lines
Standing as patiently
As if they were stretched outside
The Oval or Villa Park,
The crowns of hats, the sun
On moustached archaic faces
Grinning as if it were all
An August Bank Holiday lark;

And the shut shops, the bleached
Established names on the sunblinds,
The farthings and sovereigns,
And dark-clothed children at play
Called after kings and queens,
The tin advertisements
For cocoa and twist, and the pubs
Wide open all day;

And the countryside not caring:
The place-names all hazed over
With flowering grasses, and fields
Shadowing Domesday lines
Under wheat's restless silence;
The differently-dressed servants
With tiny rooms in huge houses,
The dust behind limousines;

Never such innocence,
Never before or since,
As changed itself to past
Without a word - the men
Leaving the gardens tidy,
The thousands of marriages,
Lasting a little while longer:
Never such innocence again.

Critical Analysis

Philip Larkin's poem "MCMXIV" is a nostalgic reflection on the pre-World War I era in England. The poem describes the scene of a city street on a summer day in 1914, just before the outbreak of war (see: principle causes of wars). It presents a vivid contrast between the innocence of the past and the darkness of the future, as the poem hints at the coming devastation of the Great War.

The opening lines of the poem describe the "long uneven lines" of men waiting outside sports stadiums, with their "moustached archaic faces" grinning as if they were on holiday. Larkin uses irony here to suggest that the men waiting to see a football match or cricket game are blissfully unaware of the impending war and the changes it will bring to their lives. The mention of the "Oval or Villa Park" suggests that this scene could be from any town in England, emphasizing the universal nature of the experience.

The second stanza describes the "shut shops" and "bleached established names" on the sunblinds, creating an image of a quiet, almost deserted town on a summer's day. Larkin's use of the word "bleached" suggests a sense of fading, as if the past is slowly disappearing. The reference to "farthings and sovereigns" and the "tin advertisements for cocoa and twist" give a sense of the era's simpler pleasures and the small-scale commerce of the time.

The third stanza describes the countryside, which "does not care" about the impending war, with the "place-names all hazed over with flowering grasses." This suggests a sense of timelessness and continuity, as if the natural world will go on despite the changes wrought by humans. The mention of the "fields shadowing Domesday lines" creates a sense of history and continuity, connecting the present with England's long past.

The final stanza of the poem is the most poignant, as Larkin writes that "never such innocence" will be seen again. The image of "the men leaving the gardens tidy" and the "thousands of marriages, lasting a little while longer" creates a sense of the fragility of life, and the idea that the people of this era had no idea what was coming. The final line, "never such innocence again," is both a lament for what was lost and a warning to future generations to appreciate the present before it too is lost.

Overall, "MCMXIV" is a deeply moving and evocative poem that captures the spirit of a bygone era. Larkin uses his powerful imagery and keen eye for detail to paint a picture of a world on the brink of change, and his poignant words remind us of the importance of cherishing the present moment

Stanza-wise Summary

Stanza 1:
Those long uneven lines
Standing as patiently
As if they were stretched outside
The Oval or Villa Park,

The first stanza sets the scene of the poem, with the description of a group of men waiting in long, uneven lines. The reference to the Oval or Villa Park implies that these lines are a queue for a sporting event, perhaps a cricket or football match. The men are standing patiently, as if they are used to waiting in such lines.

Stanza 2:
The crowns of hats, the sun
On moustached archaic faces
Grinning as if it were all
An August Bank Holiday lark;

The second stanza describes the appearance of the men waiting in line. They wear hats, and some of them have moustaches, giving them an "archaic" appearance. Despite their wait, they seem to be in good spirits, grinning as if it's all a holiday lark. The reference to August Bank Holiday, a public holiday in the UK, implies that the men are taking a break from their everyday lives to enjoy the match.

Stanza 3:
And the shut shops, the bleached
Established names on the sunblinds,
The farthings and sovereigns,
And dark-clothed children at play
Called after kings and queens,

The third stanza shifts the focus to the surrounding area. The shops are shut, and the names of the businesses are bleached on the sunblinds. The reference to farthings and sovereigns, pre-decimal currency in the UK, further emphasizes the poem's historical setting. In the background, dark-clothed children play, calling out to each other using the names of kings and queens.

Stanza 4:
The tin advertisements
For cocoa and twist, and the pubs
Wide open all day;
And the countryside not caring:

The fourth stanza continues to describe the surrounding area. There are tin advertisements for cocoa and twist, a type of tobacco, and the pubs are open all day. The countryside is indifferent to what is happening in the city, and it continues to grow and thrive.

Stanza 5:
The place-names all hazed over
With flowering grasses, and fields
Shadowing Domesday lines
Under wheat's restless silence;

The fifth stanza describes the natural landscape, with place-names becoming hazy due to the overgrowth of flowering grasses. The fields cast shadows over the Domesday lines, which refer to the survey of England and Wales ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086. The wheat is described as being restless in its silence, suggesting that it is alive and growing, but also silent and uncommunicative.

Stanza 6:
The differently-dressed servants
With tiny rooms in huge houses,
The dust behind limousines;

The final stanza shifts to another aspect of the society that the poem is describing. The servants in the big houses are described as being "differently-dressed," perhaps indicating that they are from a lower social class. They live in small rooms within large houses, highlighting the social and economic inequalities of the time. The dust behind limousines suggests that while the upper classes may have fancy cars and live in big houses, there is still dirt and decay lurking behind the façade.

Overall, "MCMXIV" is a poem that captures a specific moment in time, the year 1914, and the social and cultural landscape of that time. The poem examines the rituals and traditions of the time, including public events, currency, and place-names, while also acknowledging the social and economic inequalities that existed. Larkin's use of specific imagery, such as the references to hats

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