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By using a formal title, ‘A Study of Reading Habits’ implies a methodical and somewhat boring poem. It also implies that this poem isn’t restricted to a singular being but is a study of reading in general. ... The poem is written in the first person perspective, yet this isn’t necessarily the voice of Larkin himself. ... Contrasting Larkin’s profession with the poem reinforces this, as it isn’t likely that a librarian would condemn books. ... He describes how reading had cured him from most things short of school, implying that the poet enjoyed reading at this time if only to cure himself of boredom. We also see Larkin’s anti-establishment and anti-intellectual views as he considers school to be something negative that needs to be cured. The third line displays a bitter nostalgia where Larkin declares
‘It was worth ruining my eyes’
This is used to serve as precursor of the change in the persona’s view of books as he still sees them as something worth experiencing even though it may endanger is health. ... In the final three lines of the first stanza, he reveals that he is fond of the detective or adventure novels when he states
‘And deal out the old right hook
to dirty dogs twice my size’
This makes the idealism within the stanza evident, as the persona that Larkin assumes identifies himself with the hero or protagonist within the novels.
Approximate Word count = 954
Approximate Pages = 3.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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