Church Going is a medium length lyrical poem that explores the issue of the church as a spiritual base. It begins ordinarily enough, as do many of Larkin’s poems, then progresses deeper into the subject matter, the narrator questioning why people still need to go to church.
What is the theme of church going?
The primary theme of the poem—clear from its title, “Church Going”—is religion. The speaker is not a religious person, and he takes a dismissive, even disdainful, attitude toward religious belief. Clearly, he sees religion as something quickly becoming obsolete—something “going,” as the title says.
What is the tone of the poem Church Going?
Despite the really conversational tone of the speaker, “Church Going” uses very a good deal of iambic pentameter and a regular rhyme scheme. The tone of the speaker is so conversational, in fact, t…
What does the poet convey through the poem Church Going?
“Church Going” explains the speaker’s physical act of visiting this church and describing the scene he finds there. It also conveys that the church is going; it seems to be disappearing from importance in society.
Who wrote church going poem?
“Church Going” is a poem by the English poet Philip Larkin (1922–1985) that is generally regarded as one of his masterpieces. Larkin’s first draft of the poem was dated 24th April 1954. He worked through 21 pages of drafts, abandoned it, then took it back up, emerging with his final version in July 1954.
Why did the speaker in the poem Church Going visit the church?
The speaker of the poem sneaks into a church after making sure it’s empty. He lets the door thud shut behind him and glances around at all the fancy decorations, showing his ignorance of (or indifference to) how sacred all this stuff is supposed to be.
Why does Larkin consider the necessity of churches?
The poem ‘Church Going’ represents the thoughts of the poet as he enters a church. He is an agnostic but accepts the importance of religion in human culture. In the poem, the speaker questions the utility of churches and hence religion in our life and also seems to make an attempt to understand their attraction.
What does churchgoing mean?
the act of going regularly to church: Churchgoing in this country is declining.
How does Larkin reflect on the wider meaning of church going?
Larkin relies on assonance to depict a vivid image of the church’s interior. The words “door thud shut,” “sprawling of flowers,” “small neat organ,” and “tense, musty,” each reflect the meaning. … Larkin is convinced that nature will take its course regardless of religion, and that the future is predetermined.
How much money did the speaker of the poem Church Going donate?
After that he comes back to the door and signs the visitor’s book and donates an Irish six pence which has no value in England . Thus all his activities and manners inside the church show that he is a sceptic who has no faith in the church service.
How does the poem Church Going end?
In the end the poet says that it is a sacred place and all our compulsions are met here. All that will never become obsolete because someone or the other will always have a yearning to be serious. He will, then, visit the church because he has heard that this is the only place which can help man grow wise.
Why does the poet persona feel that the church is not worth stopping for?
He proceeds to convince himself that “the place was not worth stopping for,” in part because he is afraid of the influences that religion may have on him, but also because he is reluctant to accept the church, as it is ultimately losing its significance in society.
Did Philip Larkin believe in God?
Philip Larkin’s attitude to religion was ostensibly dismissive, even derisive. He obeyed his father’s injunction: “Never believe in God!” Late in his life, he bought an expensive Bible and read it daily while shaving. … However, Larkin valued the place of the Church as an institution.
What is the speaker’s attitude to the church that he has entered?
The speaker seems to have some kind of inner conflict about his attraction to churches. He knows, and knew, that there would not be anything new inside, but he stopped anyway. This is not unusual for him. He “often” does it and winds up in this same mental space.