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Once I am sure there's nothing going on. I step inside, letting the door thud shut. Another church: matting, seats, and stone, And little books; sprawlings of flowers, cut. For Sunday, brownish now; some brass and stuff. Up at the holy end; the small neat organ; And a tense, musty, unignorable silence,
A poem by Philip Larkin that explores the speaker's skeptical visit to an empty church and his reflections on the role of religion in society. The poem uses metaphor, symbolism, and irony to express the speaker's views on the past, present, and future of churches and churchgoing.
- Stanza One
- Stanza Two
- Stanza Three
- Stanza Four
- Stanza Five
- Stanza Six
- Stanza Seven
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‘Church Going’begins with the speaker describing, through initial action phrases, his entering into a place. In the first two lines, it is unclear to the reader where exactly this speaker is and what is so important about making sure, “there’s nothing going on.” The reader might ask, what is this place that needs to be empty for one to enter? What ...
The speaker moves “forward” to the front of the church and “run[s]” his hand over the pews. Once he has made it to the front he looks around and notices what seem to be complete repairs and restorations done to the roof. This is a curious fact about the space as it is so devoid of people. There is no one there to ask why this is the case. The speak...
The speaker seems to have some kind of inner conflictabout his attraction to churches. He knows, and knew, that there would not be anything new inside, but he stopped anyway. This is not unusual for him. He “often” does it and winds up in this same mental space. The man is frequently entering into the churches, searching through their religious obj...
In the fourth stanza of ‘Church Going’, the speaker continues his contemplation of what the churches will become when all the religiously devoted have passed on. One idea the speaker has about the fate of these places is the continued existence of their power. He considers the possibility that in the future people will still come to them for a vari...
As time passes this conglomeration of architectural elements will fall further into disrepair. It will become “less recognizable” as the days move forward until its original purpose is completely unknown. The speaker embraces a new question in this stanza. He is considering who the very last believer or pilgrim, or seeker of truth will be who enter...
As ‘Church Going’begins to conclude the speaker continues his prospective description of who the last visitor of the church will be. This person might be as he is, curious about the place because of its long-lasting nature. It has “held unsplit” for so long, one might wonder what has allowed it to survive. The onlooker might think on further in the...
The final stanza of ‘Church Going’returns to the speaker’s own thoughts, he has finished contemplating what could be and resumes his own present musings. Up until this point, the reader might be under the impression that the speaker holds no real regard for religion or the true structure of the church. This is quickly dismissed with the first line ...
A poem about the speaker's exploration of churches and his reflections on religion and history. The poem explores the themes of emptiness, silence, and irrelevance of churches in the modern world.
- Female
- October 9, 1995
- Poetry Analyst And Editor
Read and explore the meaning of Church Going, a famous poem by Philip Larkin that reflects on the role and significance of churches in modern society. Learn about the poem's themes, symbols, imagery, and structure with examples and commentary.
- Philip Larkin
Feb 28, 2017 · Learn about the meaning and context of Larkin's poem 'Church Going', which explores his visits to churches and their significance. Find out how the poem reflects on the endings, rituals, and values of Christianity in secular times.
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Nov 7, 2023 · Nov 7, 2023 11:26 AM EST. Philip Larkin. Philip Larkin and a Summary of 'Church Going'. 'Church Going' is a medium-length lyrical poem that explores the issue of the church as a spiritual base. It begins ordinarily enough, as do many of Larkin's poems, then progresses deeper into the subject matter as the narrator questions why people still ...
A poem by Philip Larkin that explores his ambivalent feelings towards churches and religion. He wonders what will happen to the empty buildings and what they mean for people's lives and beliefs.
