An Arundel Tomb

First Impressions: What is your immediate emotional reaction to the image of the earl and countess holding hands on the tomb? What does this gesture convey to you before you delve deeper into the poem?

Time and Survival: Larkin writes that "Time has transfigured them into / Untruth." What does he mean by this? In what ways can the passage of time alter or romanticize our understanding of the past?

The Nature of Love: The poem's well-known closing line states, "What will survive of us is love." Do you interpret this as a hopeful affirmation, a cynical remark, or something more complex? Use examples from the poem to back up your perspective.

Art vs. Reality: The clasped hands might have been a decorative addition by a sculptor rather than a true reflection of the couple's relationship. How does this possibility influence the poem's exploration of love and legacy?

Mortality and Memory: How does Larkin use the tomb as a symbol to address broader questions about what people leave behind after death? What insights does the poem offer about the connection between art, memory, and truth?

Personal Connection: Can you identify a monument, photograph, or object that tells a story about individuals from the past — perhaps not entirely accurately? How does that relate to the experience Larkin depicts?

First Impressions: What emotions do you feel when you see the image of the earl and countess holding hands on their tomb effigy? How does Larkin use this image to engage the reader?

Time and Erosion: Larkin mentions how time has worn away the details of the tomb, leaving just the joined hands visible. What does this indicate about what lasts — and what fades — over the centuries?

The Final Line: The poem concludes with the well-known line, "What will survive of us is love." Do you interpret Larkin's view as a hopeful truth, a comforting illusion, or something more complex? Back up your interpretation with examples from the poem.

Intention vs. Accident: Larkin implies that the sculptor might have seen the holding hands as a simple decorative feature rather than a significant statement. How does the notion that this gesture of love was unintentional influence the poem's meaning?

Faith and Doubt: How does Larkin navigate skepticism while yearning for meaning throughout the poem? Does he ultimately believe in the permanence of love, or does he express doubt?

Historical Distance: The poem transitions between the medieval past and the contemporary present. How does this change in time perspective influence the poem's exploration of love, memory, and mortality?

Connecting to Your Own Experience: Are there objects, places, or gestures in your life that hold meaning beyond their original purpose? How does Larkin's poem shed light on how we attribute meaning to the world around us?