Student Question
What does "it" refer to in the poem "Church Going"?
Quick answer:
In the poem "Church Going," "it" refers to the church. Despite the speaker's initial mockery, the church's solemnity and power impress him. The church is described as a "serious house on a serious earth," meeting a societal need for seriousness and reverence, and attracting individuals who seek a deeper sense of purpose.
A serious house on a serious earth it is, In whose blent air all our compulsions meet, Are recognised, and robed as destinies. And that much can never be obsolete, Since someone will forever be surprising A hunger in himself to be more serious, And gravitating with it to this ground...Even though the speaker in this poem dares to mock the church, his actions give him away, as he takes off his bicycle clips with "awkward reverence." Larkin argues that there is something intrinsically important in churches, because they meet a felt need that we have, and when we find that we have "a hunger in [ourselves] to be more serious," churches are the place that we will gravitate to.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.