1. The Use of Allusion in Poetry
As he transitions into the second stanza, the speaker begins to shift into a darker stage of his life not only in his preference of literature but seemingly in his reality as well. ... By alluding to cheap fiction, the speaker reveals the irony in how he eventually cannot escape his own outlet, his life growing relatable to the misfortune of literature. ... Through the use of ironic allusion, Larkin illustrates how escapism ultimately leads to further misery through his indirect comparison of the speaker's latest preference in literature and what his life inevitably comes to be. ...
- Word Count: 794
- Approx Pages: 3
- Grade Level: Graduate