... form of irony, helping the reader draw out the meaning of the text through understated contrasts. Both "A Study of Reading Habits," by Philip Larkin and "Constantly Risking Absurdity," by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, employ allusion, however in "A Study of Reading Habits" Larkin alludes with a sense of irony while in "Constantly Risking Absurdity," the poet does not. In ... fiction as it soon becomes his reality. Immediately into the poem, Larkin writes "[w]hen getting my nose in a book/Cured more things short of school", revealing how through reading he was able to find remedy to his trouble...

• Word Count: 794
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Graduate

... leader, Marvell injects a somewhat subtle use of ambiguity and irony, which deliberately interweave in order to delineate his subjection of Ireland during the 1650's. Upon a preliminary reading of the poem, that is to say, a reading whereby a critical deconstruction is not established, one could perhaps be forgiven for the assumption that the poem has little additional subtexts or meaning other than to literally ... ...

• Word Count: 418
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Graduate