Perspectives

For you to better comprehend the poem “This Be the Verse” by Phillip Larkin, its theme and the author’s style and message, it is a good idea also to look at it from different perspectives such as its reception in pop culture, genre, and relation to similar works.

Current issues

Even if the poem was published in 1971, the topic it deals with represents a universal theme, an issue which has been and still is widely researched by psychologists: the deep influences parents have on children and their subsequent adult development.

Though written in a simple, ironic way, the poem is very deep and complex. Modern research has, indeed, proven the main argument of the poet – that regardless of the parents’ intent, children will still be affected negatively at some level by their actions and attitudes.

However, unlike the poet’s advice – promoting not havin...