Thomas William Gunn (1929-2004)

● Gunn grew up in England and later moved to the United States, where he settled in San Francisco. His poetry reflects both British formalism and American freedom.

● Gunn often explored themes of personal freedom, particularly in the context of 1960s counterculture.

● He was an Anglo- American poet.

● His style is logical and economical.

● He has been compared with John Donne.

● As an openly gay poet, he wrote about same-sex love, relationships, and desire.

● Many of his later poems, especially in The Man with Night Sweats (1992), dealt with the AIDS crisis and the loss of friends.

● Some poems explore the tension between aggression and discipline, reflecting his interest in motorcycle gangs and street life.

Important works 

1) Fighting Terms(1954) 

2) The sense of Movement (1957) 

3) My Sad Captains (1961) 

4) Touch ( 1967) 

5) Molly (1971) 

6) The Passage of Joy (1982) 

7) The Man with the Night Sweats (1992) 

8) Boss Cupid (2000) 

 Philip Larkin(1922-1985)

☆ He was an English poet and novelist.

☆ When he was a school boy of 15, he wrote his first poem 'Winter Nocturne', which was published in his school magazine in 1938. It shows the the influence of Yeats.

☆ He became famous as a novelist.

☆ He spent much of his professional life as a librarian, notably at the University of Hull, which influenced his perspective on life and literature.

☆ His first novel 'Jill' was published in 1946.

☆ Another novel A Girl in Winter  was published in 1947.

☆ He was always preoccupied with what he called ' the melancholy, the misfortunate, the failing elements of life'.

Important works: 

1) The North ship (1945) :- 

● Written by Philip Larkin, whose poetry is known for its clear, unadorned language and its reflective, sometimes melancholic tone.

● Like many of his works, "The North Ship" uses everyday imagery to explore deeper existential themes.

● The poem fits within Larkin’s broader exploration of modern life, the passage of time, and the inevitability of change.

● Reflects post-war sensibilities, where there was a growing preoccupation with isolation, mortality, and the discontents of modern existence.

● It gave little indication of his future distinction as a poet. 

2) The Less Deceived (1955) 

3) The Whitsum Weddings (1964) :- 

● First published in 1964, the poem quickly became one of Larkin’s best-known works.

● The poem captures a train journey on a Whitsun weekend—a traditional holiday period in England when many couples marry.

● It reflects Larkin’s characteristic focus on everyday experiences, using them to comment on broader themes like time, change, and the nature of modern life.

● Vivid depictions of the countryside, railway journey, and wedding processions create a strong sense of place.

● Composed in free verse, which allows Larkin to mirror the continuous, flowing motion of the train.

● The poem is divided into several stanzas that chronicle various scenes witnessed during the journey.

● It describes autobiographical elements.

4) High Windows (1974):- 

● "High Windows" is both a poem and the title of Philip Larkin’s 1974 collection.

● Written during a period of significant social and cultural change in Britain, the poem reflects the upheavals of modernity—especially in attitudes toward sexuality and generational roles.

● This poem is an ironic tribute to the sexual freedom and permissiveness of 1960s.

● The poem is often interpreted as an endorsement of the sexual revolution, celebrating the removal of the strictures of an older, repressive social order.

● Larkin contrasts the restrictive past with the liberating possibilities of the modern era.

● A significant aspect is the shift between generations. The “high windows” metaphorically represent the new vistas available to the younger generation, which the older generation never fully experienced.

● He had admiration for Laurence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. 

● In the opening stanza of the poem, he refers to a love making scene. 'When I see a couple of kids/ And guess he's fucking her and she's taking pills or wearing a diaphragm/I know this is the paradise everyone old has dreamed of all their lives'.

● The imagery of “high windows” suggests escape, openness, and a break from confinement.

● While there is an element of celebration in embracing modern freedoms, there is also a reflective melancholy about what is lost in the transition from the old to the new.

5) Annus Mirabilis :- 

● This poem's name means the year of miracles.

● In Larkin’s usage, the title is ironic. Rather than celebrating a year filled with genuine miracles, the poem interrogates the modern tendency to hype progress while everyday life remains largely unremarkable.

● Written in the context of post-war modernity, the poem reflects a period when society was imbued with both high expectations (new freedoms, technological advances, cultural shifts) and a pervasive sense of disillusionment.

● The poem questions whether modern life ever truly delivers on the “miraculous” promises it proclaims.

● Larkin juxtaposes the high hopes embedded in the phrase “annus mirabilis” with a reality that is muted, routine, or even disappointing.

● It examines the paradox of a society that boasts about progress while many aspects of life remain stagnant or are mired in familiar routines.

6) Afternoons 

7) Toads 

8) Church Going:- 

● "Church Going" is a poem by Philip Larkin, first published in 1954 in The Less Deceived. It explores the poet’s reflections on religion, faith, and the cultural significance of churches in a secular world.

● The poem examines the diminishing role of churches in modern society. Larkin wonders what will happen when religious belief fades.

● The poem questions whether churches will continue to hold cultural significance even after faith diminishes.

●  A mix of skepticism, curiosity, and reverence. The speaker is both dismissive and appreciative of churches.

Summary

• The speaker enters a church when no one is around, observing its elements (altar, lectern, floor).
• He acknowledges that he is not religious but still finds something significant about the place.
• He speculates about the future of churches, wondering if they will become mere historical monuments.
• Despite his skepticism, he concludes that people will always need places to reflect on life’s big questions.

● "Church Going" reflects Larkin’s characteristic blend of skepticism and reluctant admiration for tradition. While he doubts the continued relevance of churches, he acknowledges their deep-rooted importance in human life. The poem ultimately suggests that even in a secular world, people will still seek out places of contemplation.

 Ted Hughes(1930-1998) 

☆ He was an English Poet.

☆ He was impressed with Yorkshire's local language and traditional oral literature.

☆ He became the poet laureate in 1984.

☆ Hughes is widely regarded as one of the most important poets of the 20th century, noted for his powerful imagery and exploration of the natural and mythical worlds.

Important Works:- 

1) The Hawk in the Rain (1957) : This early collection established Hughes's reputation, showcasing his ability to capture the raw power of nature through striking imagery and dynamic verse.

2) Wood Wo (1967)  

3) Lupercal (1960) 

4) Crow ( 1972) : One of his most influential works, "Crow" reimagines creation and the nature of evil through a mythic narrative voice. The collection’s dark, allegorical tone explores themes of destruction, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of life.

5) Birthday Letter (1998) 

6) The Thought Fox

7) The Bull Moses.

8) Hawk Roosting

9) Crow Wakes (1971) 

10) Eat Crow(1972) 

 Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) 

☆ Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright, and translator.

☆ He is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century.

☆ He won nobel prize in 1995.

☆ He was the writer of the modern version of "Beowulf".

☆ Heaney joined the circle of Ulster (Belfast) poets in 1960s, which included Philip Hobbsbaum, Derek Mahon, Paul Muldoon, James Simmons, Frank Ormsby and Michael Foley known as 'The Group'.

Important Works:- 

1) Death of a Naturalist (1966) : First major collection; drawn from childhood experiences and environments.

2) Door into the Dark (1969): The title 'Door into the Dark', points to Heaney's belief that poems emerge from what he called ' the buried life of the feelings'.

3) Wintering out(1972) 

4) North(1975) 

5) Field Work ( 1979) 

6) Sweeney Astray (1983) 

7) Station Island (1984)

8) The Haw Lantern (1987) 

9)  Seeing Things (1991) 

10) The Spirit Level (1996)

 William Langland (1332-1400) 

 Socrates (470-399 BC)

☆ Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher from Athens.

☆ He is considered one of the founders of Western philosophy.

☆ Unlike other philosophers, he did not write any works; most of what we know about him comes from his students, especially Plato and Xenophon.

☆ Socrates has become renowned for his contribution to the field of Ethics and it is the Platonic Socrates who lends his name to the concept of Socratic Irony and the Socratic Method.

☆ He was prominently lampooned in Aristophanes' comedy "The Clouds".

☆ Famous Quotes:- 

 Euripides (480-406 BC)

● Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece, along with Aeschylus and Sophocles. He was known for his innovative approach to Greek tragedy, presenting complex characters, psychological depth, and challenging traditional beliefs. His plays often questioned fate, the gods, and social norms, making him one of the most modern and controversial playwrights of his tim

● He wrote over 90 plays, but only 18 or 19 survive in ful

● Women in his plays are often intelligent, independent, and rebellious. Examples include Medea, Phaedra, and Electra, who defy societal norm

● Major Works:

1) Alcestis (438 BC)

2) Medea (431 BC)

3) Heracleidae (430 BC)

4) The Bacchae (405 BC)

5) The Trojan Women (415 BC)

6) Hippolytus ( 428 BC)

7) Helen ( 412 BC)

8) Andromache ( 525 BC )

9) Hecuba ( 424 BC ) 

10) The suppliants ( 423 BC )

11) Electra (420 BC) 

12) Heracles(416 BC) 

13) Phoenician Women(410 BC)

14) Orestes ( 408 BC)

The informations  given here are very useful to the aspirants of NET, SET ,JRF, WBPSC Assistant Master and Mistress  and literature students.