Analysis of "Ignorance" by Philip Larkin and links to Abse poem

1. Philip Larkin

2.  The layout of Ignorance, could be the order of your own life, in
the first stanza, it’s the beginning of your life where you know
nothing, “Strange to know nothing, never to be sure” this line
shows the doubt and vulnerability you have at a young age.
 In stanza 2, it could show the teenage ignorance you have in life,
where you are reluctant to be told right from wrong, “Their skill
at finding what they need” this shows their urge to make their
own way in life.
 In the final stanza it could show the final stage of life, your mind
racing ahead of your body, “for our flesh surrounds us with it’s
own decisions” this line gives the impression that in the final
stage of life it’s not the mind that controls your decisions instead
it is the body, deciding when you die.

3.  Ignorance applies to all of mankind, it is inevitable,
nothing is ever 100 percent right, “And yet we spend all our
life on imprecisions”
 Imprecisions: not precise, inexact or inaccurate.
 Larkin also in the last stanza relates back to his constant
theme of DEATH. He brings the idea that no matter what
we do in life the ending is all the same. (“Then we start to
die”). This also relates to the crossroads in life imagery
where individuals all make their own life choices and
decisions throughout life however we all end up the same
death is always going to be apparent.

4.  Strange to know nothing, never to be sure
Of what is right, or true, or real
But forced to qualify: Or so I feel
Or: Well, it does seem so,
Someone must know
Strange to be ignorant of the way things work
Their skill at finding what they need,
Their sense of shape, and punctual spread of seed
And willingness to change
Yes, it is strange
Even to wear such knowledge---for our flesh
surrounds us with its own decisions---
and yet spend all our lives on imprecisions,
that when we start to die
have no idea why.
Traditional rhyme scheme apart from the
first line on every stanza- this could suggest
the ignorance to completing something 100
percent.
Another technique Larkin uses is
enjambment in the final stanza to suggest
that life is becoming more fragmented in the
final stages of life.
Larkin uses a lighter more informal tone in
this poem “Yes, it is strange” and “Have no
idea why.” to show how he is not one
hundred percent sure either, maybe he isn't
quite sure.

5.  Dockery and son,-”life is first boredom then fear” at
the start of life he is bored and doesn’t really know
what he’s doing. Then towards the end death becomes
inevitable.
 The Whitsun Weddings- the cross roads of life, “bright
knots of rail” making decisions in life but at the end
there will always be death you can’t escape it.

6.  “The other world”, this could be a reference to heaven
and wanting to take poison which nature holds.
Whereas Larkin’s persona was trying to escape death
and has regrets.
 Abse’s poem has more of a story formation but Larkin’s
is more philosophical and negative about death.
 Abse refers to religious beliefs throughout Quests,
“Apion” and “Homer”. Larkin is more realist and
focuses on the reality of death but Abse glamorises it
with fantasy.

7.  “But Gods had human faces and were flawed”, the
Gods put us on earth but in the end they take away our
lives. Which relates to Larkin’s idea of all being taken
away at the end without knowing, “that when we start
to die I have no idea why”.
 “Not me. Secular” By Abse saying secular this could
mean that he doesn’t believe in all the religious beliefs
that he was talking about in previous stanzas and ends
with questioning what is the purpose of life like Larkin
does, “Have no idea why.”