A. "He turned his back on the ‘two decades of hypocrisy’."
Correct Match: IV. W. H. Auden
This phrase refers to Auden’s disillusionment with the political and moral failures of the interwar period (i.e., the 1920s and 1930s), which he described as a time of hypocrisy and false idealism.
He moved from England to America in 1939, reflecting a break with the old order — both politically and poetically.
✅ So, A → IV is correct.
B. "The Welsh traditions of the power of spoken word are present in his poetry."
Correct Match: I. Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas was Welsh, and his poetry is known for its oral richness, musicality, and oratorical force.
The Welsh bardic tradition, with its focus on sound and public performance, is a defining influence on his style.
✅ So, B → I is correct.
C. "He is identified as a representative middle-brow voice of the present, adjusting to the past."
Correct Match: II. John Betjeman
Betjeman is often described as the poet of the middle class, evoking a nostalgic view of middle-brow British life.
His poetry acknowledges the changes in society while remaining emotionally connected to past traditions and English heritage.
✅ So, C → II is correct.
D. "His poetry plays with and against Romantic tradition in poetry."
Correct Match: III. Philip Larkin
Larkin’s poetry engages with Romantic ideals (emotion, nature, the individual) but undermines them with modern skepticism, irony, and realism.
For example, while Romanticism idealized love and nature, Larkin often explored their limitations and disappointments.
✅ So, D → III is correct.
Year-wise PYQs
