Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday

Information
1. for Sally Amis - welcoming a new-born baby into the world
2. Born Yesterday
  1. pun: literally written day after Sally was born / used to symbolise how the baby 'knows nothing' - childhood innocence
3. platonic relationship + awareness of the negative (like Nettles + Brothers)
4. an acceptance of the harsh realities of life, like in 'Sonnet 43'
But if it shouldn’t, then May you be ordinary; Have, like other women, An average of talents:
1. But - negative
2. ordinary - unexceptional, common place, of no special note
3. average of talents: cooking, cleaning (womanly duties)
Philip Larkin
1. English poet. 1922 -1985
2. solitary man who disliked fame
3. observations of everyday life
4. negative + cynical
Not the usual stuff About being beautiful, Or running off a spring Of innocence and love -
1. usual stuff - very un-poetic, common phrase used to deliberately contradict the special, unrealism hopes people normally have for a child. Strikes out against other people's comments
2. beauty beautiful - alliteration: makes the phrase roll off the tongue + sound elegant + attractive
3. spring - natural flow of water. From folk tales: a fountain able to make people young again. Highlights unrealistic associations with youth + baby-hood
Structure
1. Made a wish for the baby
  1. He first tells us what it is NOT. Creates suspense, much like suspense about how child will turn out
    1. Wishes catch us off guard, especially given intended recipient of poem
      1. Disclaimer 'fi' shows us that Larkin's wish is positive after all
They will all wish you that, And should it prove possible, Well, you’re a lucky girl.
1. he's not saying he doesn't wish that on her, but he is cynical about how realistic those expectations are. These traits are by products of luck, over which you have no control
2. lucky girl - condescending phrase
Nothing uncustomary To pull you off your balance, That, unworkable itself, Stops all the rest from working.
1. doesn't want her to be ridiculously good-looking or talented because as a result it will disrupt your whole life
In fact, may you be dull — If that is what a skilled, Vigilant, flexible, Unemphasised, enthralled Catching of happiness is called.
1. if - disclaimer
2. 'I don't want you to be dull I want you to be skilled, vigilant, flexible, unemphasised + enthralled -> but these qualities are thought to be dull by others'
3. quick firing off of these 5 adjectives shows how complicated catching happiness is
  1. skilled - trained or experienced to do a set task (domestically - sexist views)
  2. vigilant - watching out to detect danger, protective over your family
  3. flexible - adaptable + willing
  4. unemphasised - not bragging. Prefix 'un' suggests that the lack of something can be a virtue
  5. enthralled - captivating + charming
4. catching - language of infection is used to suggest that happiness can be caught
5. last 2 lines rhyme, making them stand out and contrast the conversational tone of poem. Clearly these 2 lines, like the volta in a Shakespearean sonnet, contain the message of the poem
  1. message: true happiness can be found for a woman in embracing the domestic role of a wife (cooking, cleaning, looking after family, being humble) -> sexist
Tightly-folded bud, I have wished you something None of the others would:
1. tightly-folded bud - metaphor: undeveloped part of a plant (like a new-born baby swaddled in a blanket). Has its whole life to come - opening of its flower, beauty etc.
2. you - direct address
Not ugly, not good-looking,
1. repetition of negative words - overemphasises negativity

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	Created by Alice Love almost 11 years ago