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Today, on November 22nd, 2009, the site contains 196 poets, 8,692 poems and 7,657 comments.
Analysis and comments on Sunny Prestatyn by Philip Larkin

Comment 8 of 8, added on August 8th, 2008 at 6:15 PM.

Abel, he's refering to the Palms hotel. And it's not always sunny you know, as i'm sure it isn't where you're from. Same as anywhere.

Still, it's a shithole

Nay from Belgium
Comment 7 of 8, added on November 10th, 2006 at 2:37 PM.

Pop trio Atomic Kitten will reform to play a concert in support of jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields...

Roy Lopez
Comment 6 of 8, added on June 21st, 2006 at 3:52 PM.

Is the cancer meant in a literal sense or is it a metaphor for the cancer in society that is the advertising industry? It's worth thinking about.

Ed from China
Comment 5 of 8, added on June 9th, 2006 at 4:49 AM.

Having been through Prestatyn on a train (it's so Larkin it bleeds!) I can tell you that the disappointing truth is that there are no palm trees and it wasn't sunny. In fact it was positively wet.

But that is the whole point. The reality is never as good as the advertising people make out. And those who strive for this perfection get 'snaggle-toothed and boss-eyed'. These compound words (stick that in your essay!) make the stand out and makes the girl's predicament more obvious, linking back to her 'breast-lifting arms' which are the reason for her attack.

In one simple sentence Larkin shows the more likely outcome of an ordinary person's life: 'Now Fight Cancer is there.' most people will live an unglamorous life and die an unglamorous death.

Abel from United Kingdom
Comment 4 of 8, added on March 24th, 2005 at 4:19 AM.

Emily Webb spies on girls fannies

Malcolm
Comment 3 of 8, added on March 24th, 2005 at 4:05 AM.

This poem is good, emily is stupid and eats poo

David
Comment 2 of 8, added on March 18th, 2005 at 4:38 AM.

I dare any reader not to be shocked by what Larkin describes in this poem! He achieves his whole effect through shock value. The white satin of the girl's clothing symbolises verginity, and helps to add to the image of perfection that the poster is trying to create. The poster is full of ideals...such as the palm trees...in Wales. As can be seen in other poems, Larkin's not fond of ideals...they kind of get him narked. The line 'slapped up one day in March' suggests casual violence, and a physical attack to the girl. There is agression toward the poster, defacing the girl on there so she is 'snaggle-toothed and boss-eyed'. It is first her beauty that is destroyed. Larkin makes the stanza all the more forceful by using long vowel, and colloquial terms such as 'huge tits' and 'tuberous cock and balls'. The vandal of the poster was obviously proud, signing his work with 'Titch Thomas' The final line is a reminder of reality...'Now Fight Cancer is there'. Larkin, in this poem, is suggesting to his reader that if an ideal is unobtainable, then there can only be a violent reaction induced by it. A fantastic poem, in my opinion.

Jenny C from United Kingdom
Comment 1 of 8, added on January 13th, 2005 at 4:04 AM.

I think this poem is one of Larkins' greats, although it is depressingly difficult to understand the main concepts, it creates the common image of society through the innocent eyes of "the girl on the poster", with "a tuberous cock and balls"- just a classic line!

louise from United Kingdom



Information about Sunny Prestatyn

Poet: Philip Larkin
Poem: Sunny Prestatyn
Volume: The Whitsun Weddings
Year: 1962
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 7746 times


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