The Whitsun Weddings collection information

Philip Larkin Biography

Potential exam questions for Phillip Larkin poems

1. H. Bertens- 'mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life'. Using ideas from the critical anthology and The Whitsun Weddings poetry collection by Phillip Larkin to what extent to you agree with this view?
2. H. Bertens- 'It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness'. Using ideas from the critical anthology and The Whitsun Weddings poetry collection by Phillip Larkin to what extent to you agree with this view? 
3. H.Bertens- 'capitalism alienates them from themselves by seeing them in terms of prouction- as production units, as objects rather than human beings. Capitalism turns people in things, it reifies them.' Using ideas from the critical anthology and The Whitsun Weddings poetry collection by Phillip Larkin to what extent to you agree with this view?(Chosen question) 

The Hollow Men T.S. Eliot

Passivity 
The Hollow Men have been damned for their cowardice and weakness of will, symbolised by "the Shadow. A marxist would argue that it is better to either follow good or evil then to be submissive. To do nothing and to remain submissive is pointless. Make sure you do at least something in your life whether it is good or bad compared to doing nothing because then you are participating and go to either hell or heaven rather then remaining in the Shadows. The Hollow Men are "Walking alone" and in a state of limbo meaning a state of nothing. Their neither in heaven nor hell, life nor death, they purely exist for eternity.  A marxist believes that it is our duty to challenge and not to remain in a false consciousness which must question the unfair capitalist society and status quo to prevail against it. To simply do nothing is not good enough. A Marxist strongly believes that we must have some purpose in our life and strife towards either good or bad. The Hollow men are stuck between life and death and hell and heaven, they did not pick a side and did not become active. "This is the way the world ends"