Question

This poet described an “immense slackening ache” experienced by visitors to a man who directs “God about this eye, that knee.” In a different poem by this author, the speaker is eventually told he is “too selfish, withdrawn, / And easily bored to love.” This poet described death as “The anaesthetic from which none come round” in a poem parodying a medieval French form. Another of this man’s poems considers that “succeeding eyes [began] / To look, not read” at a (*) tomb effigy in Chichester Cathedral. That poem by this writer concludes with an “almost-instinct almost truth.” This poet of (10[2])“Aubade” wrote a poem describing how “man hands on misery (10[1])to man,” and advising the reader to not “have any kids yourself.” For 10 (10[1])points, name this librarian and poet who wrote “This Be the Verse.” ■END■

ANSWER: Philip Larkin [or Philip Arthur Larkin] (The unnamed poems are “Faith Healing,” “Wild Oats” and“An Arundel Tomb.”)
<Literature - British Literature>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Tony ChenToronto Tony Jingyu Chen eats quizbowlToronto Penguin World War10010
Caleb OttWaterloo BustToronto cDNA10010
Yihong ChenToronto PilkWaterloo Cali11010
Maude-Sophie LockmanOttawaToronto Sprout12410

Summary

2024 Booster Shot (Columbia)02/23/2024Y667%0%0%101.25
2024 Booster Shot (Waterloo)02/23/2024Y4100%0%0%108.50