Afternoons

First Impressions: What mood or atmosphere does Larkin create in the opening lines of "Afternoons"? Which specific images or word choices contribute most to that impression?

The Passage of Time: Larkin writes that "something is pushing them / To the side of their own lives." What do you think he means by this? What forces — social, domestic, or natural — seem to be "pushing" the young mothers in the poem?

Identity and Selfhood: How does the poem imply that the women's sense of self has evolved since becoming mothers? Do you interpret this as a lament, an observation, or something else entirely?

Nature and Setting: What significance does the autumn setting hold in the poem? How does Larkin use seasonal imagery to reinforce the poem's main ideas?

The Children: The children are present in the poem but mostly in the background. Why do you think Larkin made this choice? What effect does it have?

Tone and Sympathy: Is Larkin sympathetic toward the women he describes, or does he maintain a detached, observational stance? Use evidence from the poem to support your perspective.

Broader Themes: "Afternoons" was published in 1964. To what extent do you believe its themes are tied to that era, and to what extent are they still relevant today?

Opening Image: The poem starts with "Summer is fading." What mood does this line create right away, and how does it influence the tone for the rest of the poem?

The Young Mothers: Larkin depicts young mothers in a recreation ground. How does he portray them, and what does this portrayal reveal about their lives and identities?

Time and Loss: The line "something is pushing them / To the side of their own lives" stands out in the poem. What do you think Larkin is conveying here? What is "pushing" these women, and what has been lost or displaced in their lives?

Symbolism of the Setting: Think about the "recreation ground," the "estateful of washing," and the "albums, lettered / Our Wedding." What do these images symbolize regarding domestic life and the passage of time?

The Children: How does Larkin depict the children in relation to their mothers? What does the difference between the generations imply about identity and the future?

Larkin's Tone: Would you characterize Larkin's attitude toward these women as sympathetic, critical, melancholic, or something else? Use specific lines from the poem to back up your opinion.

Universality vs. Specificity: Although the poem is set in a specific mid-20th-century English suburb, do you think its themes resonate beyond that time and place? Why or why not?

The Title: Why do you think Larkin opted for the plural "Afternoons" instead of "An Afternoon"? How does this choice affect the poem's meaning?