Student Question
What is the source of the poem "Church Going" by Larkin?
Quick answer:
The poem "Church Going" by Philip Larkin was written in 1954 and published in 1955. It reflects Larkin's atheist views and skepticism towards Christianity and religion in the post-World War II era. During this time, many questioned traditional structures like religion, social class, and government, which were seen as contributing to the war. In the poem, the speaker expresses a sense of detachment from Christianity, unable to find meaning in the church's purpose.
Philip Larkin wrote the "Church Going" in 1954, and it was published in 1955 (Greenblatt). The poem touches on Larkin's predominantly atheist views and his general confusion about Christianity and religion in general.
The time period for the poem is post-World War II when many people were wary and even distrustful of the old, traditional structures of religion, social class, and especially government, reasoning that dependence on these same structures led us into a huge war, so why should we still trust them? Larkin's speaker echoes this sentiment throughout the poem; he feels a genuine sense of disconnect from the artifices of Christianity and the church. He sees the building and surveys its interior, but is unable to find meaning or appreciation for the purpose of the Church.
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