A figure of 8

The first stanza opens with a metaphor " In Mr Theophilus's jail" showing how classrooms used to be, the word 'jail' suggests a restricted and confided place to work in. The poem implies a strict structure to school life creating a mundane daily routine, which is no surprise the boy "half listens to a story" showing boredom or a distraction and being able to think for themselves.
The second stanza creates a sense of escape "free at last", arms horizontal" showing freedom and having their arms out suggests a youthfulness and being playful but then Abse shows a division of childish and adult themes as the boy metaphorically "flies to Africa, to see naked women" showing dreams about adult themes suggesting a determination to become older. But this is followed by "farts H2Ss" which brings immaturity back.

The following stanzas show young imaginations. Playing war games "shot down in flames" suggesting a thirst for danger or to become soldiers perhaps someone they look up too. However "someone had bombed the park" this could reflect the child's naivety and how everyday childhood memories can be covered or destroyed by the truth that you learn as you grow older for example the park would hold happy memories that become destroyed by the 'bomb.'
A "spaceship" brings back the childish imagination and the optimism they have; that after all the chaos "safely the boy comes back to base" again showing that the children at home/school are hidden from the reality and the outside world. The last stanza ends with "FUCK WINNIE THE POOH" showing a rebellion against his childhood and the stereotypes and naivety it holds which the child appears to be sick of.
This final stanza shows that the child must then return to their everyday routine and that until they grow older they wont truly understand every issue, but in fact even when you are old you may not necessarily understand everything in front of you showing a perfect cycle "figure of 8" that you cant escape.

This poem links well to Larkin's 'Study of Reading Habits' as during a child Larkin daydreamed about being heroic and as an adolescent wanted to be someone else. The books and characters offered Larkin an escape from reality through the stories but in as he grew older he learnt the truth. In 'A Figure of 8' the childhood was covered by school lessons, and playtime that didn't expose the outside world.