Poetry as emotional experience : a comparative overview of John Keats and Philip Larkin

Abstract

In this dissertation I chose to juxtapose John Keats and Philip Larkin. Two poets from different movements but who both choose to use their poetry as a means of self-expression where they get the opportunity to voice their personal ideas, ambitions, experiences and perceptions. Writing about these things in their poetry also enables these poets to crystallize their moments and make them last forever. The Introductory Chapter gives an overview of both poets through the background of their movements, as I also point out some theories which have either influenced or have been avoided in their works. Then the following two chapters look at both Keats and Larkin separately, while the last chapter, which is a comparative overview, points out the poets' differences and similarities. I focused mostly on how the poets choose to vent and deal with their fear of immortality and death, which seems to be a common factor between the two and is a predominant theme in all of their works.