It insinuates that although the town is vast and dark like a shadow, it is not real. ... Larkin uses irony in the phrase 'screen groves with custard' to represent how the adverts temporarily allow people to forget the reality of their own lives. ... There is a contrast between the concept of the 'well balanced families' and the 'boy puking his heart out'. ... Larkin describes 'the boy', 'a pensioner', 'dying smokers' and 'going dark' to describe a progression from young to old age. ... However, it isn't until their live...

• Word Count: 2501
• Approx Pages: 10

Something disturbing is felt in the imagery of darkness created metaphorically by comparing memory to a darkened theater coupled with the masturbatory stroking by the man. ... The irony here is in the royalty metaphor as her father had no castle or kingdom but was a simple working class man. ...

• Word Count: 3020
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School