Toads by Phillip Larkin
external conflict: conflicts existing between two people, between a person and nature or machine, or between a person and a whole society
internal conflict: conflicts existing within a person's mind or heart
This was one of the more difficult poems to understand, but when we talked about it in class it really helped me out. I learned there are two types of conflict in this poem. The first one is directly stated and even italicized in the work. It is actually the first line of the poem. The first conflict is an external conflict of work. The author is talking about work and why he should let it "squat on my life" (Larkin). Everyone has to work in some way in order to get what they want. Not very many people, if given the choice, would choose to work their whole lives instead of not do anything and get everything they wish to have. So the first conflict, or toad, is that one must work.
The second toad is a little less blunt in stating what he actually is. The cone of meaning, as Mr. Costello would say, is a lot wider when it comest to the second conflict. This conflict is internal too. It says that this toad "Will never allow me to blarney my way to getting the fame and the girl and the money all at one sitting" (Larkin). This toad is something that someone has (morals, pride) that keeps them from flattering or lying to get what they ultimately want. Also, it says, "I don't say, one bodies the other One's spiritual truth; But I do say its hard to lose either, When you have both" (Larkin), meaning, you can't get rid of one (work) with the other toad (the thing granting you the easy way) still in you.
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