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The Unknown Citizen Summary & Analysis by W. H. Auden

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

"The Unknown Citizen" was written by the British poet W. H. Auden, not long after he moved to America in 1939. The poem is a kind of satirical elegy written in praise of a man who has recently died and who lived what the government has deemed an exemplary life. This life, really, seems to have been perfectly ho-hum—exemplary only insofar as this man never did anything to question or deviate from society's expectations. On the one hand, the poem implicitly critiques the standardization of modern life, suggesting that people risks losing sight of what it means to be an individual when they focus exclusively on the same status symbols and markers of achievement (like having the right job, the right number of kids, the right car, and so forth). The poem also builds a frightening picture of a world ruled by total conformity and state oppression, in which a bureaucratic government dictates and spies on its citizens' daily lives.

• Read the full text of “The Unknown Citizen”

The Full Text of “The Unknown Citizen”

“the unknown citizen” summary, “the unknown citizen” themes.

Oppression, Surveillance, and the State

• Before Line 1

Standardization and Conformity

• Lines 18-24
• Lines 25-29

Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “The Unknown Citizen”

Before line 1, lines 1-5.

​​​​​​ ... ... the Greater Community.

Except for the ... ... Fudge Motors Inc.

Yet he wasn't ... ... liked a drink.

Lines 14-17

The Press are ... ... left it cured.

Lines 18-21

Both Producers Research ... ... and a frigidaire.

Lines 22-27

Our researchers into ... ... with their education.

Lines 28-29

Was he free? ... ... certainly have heard.

“The Unknown Citizen” Symbols

Bureaucratic Departments

• Line 1: “Bureau of Statistics”
• Line 5: “Greater Community”
• Line 10: “Union”
• Line 11: “Union”
• Line 12: “Social Psychology”
• Line 14: “The Press”
• Line 17: “Health-card”
• Line 18: “Producers Research and High-Grade Living”
• Line 19: “Instalment Plan”
• Line 22: “Public Opinion”
• Line 26: “Eugenist”

The Modern Man

• Lines 20-21: “And had everything necessary to the Modern Man, / A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.”

“The Unknown Citizen” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

Alliteration.

• Line 7: “factory,” “fired”
• Line 8: “Fudge”
• Line 14: “Press,” “paper”
• Line 16: “Policies,” “prove”
• Line 17: “his Health-card,” “he,” “was once,” “hospita,” “cured”
• Line 20: “Modern Man”
• Line 23: “he held”
• Line 24: “peace,” “peace,” “war,” “went”
• Line 25: “population”
• Line 26: “parent”
• Line 28: “Was,” “he,” “Was,” “he happy”
• Line 8: “Fudge Motors Inc.”
• Line 8: “employers, Fudge”
• Line 21: “phonograph, a,” “radio, a”
• Line 24: “peace, he,” “peace: when,” “war, he”
• Line 28: “free?,” “ Was,” “happy? The”
• Line 29: “wrong, we”

End-Stopped Line

• Line 2: “complaint,”
• Line 4: “saint,”
• Line 5: “Community.”
• Line 7: “fired,”
• Line 8: “Inc.”
• Line 9: “views,”
• Line 10: “dues,”
• Line 11: “sound)”
• Line 13: “drink.”
• Line 15: “way.”
• Line 16: “insured,”
• Line 17: “cured.”
• Line 20: “Man,”
• Line 21: “frigidaire.”
• Line 23: “year;”
• Line 24: “went.”
• Line 25: “population,”
• Line 26: “generation.”
• Line 27: “education.”
• Line 28: “absurd:”
• Line 29: “heard.”
• Lines 1-2: “be / One”
• Lines 3-4: “agree / That”
• Lines 6-7: “retired / He”
• Lines 12-13: “found / That”
• Lines 14-15: “day / And”
• Lines 18-19: “declare / He”
• Lines 19-20: “Plan / And”
• Lines 22-23: “content / That”

Rhetorical Question

• Line 28: “Was he free? Was he happy?”

“The Unknown Citizen” Vocabulary

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• Fudge Motors Inc.
• Instalment Plan
• (Location in poem: Line 1: “Bureau”)

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Unknown Citizen”

Rhyme scheme, “the unknown citizen” speaker, “the unknown citizen” setting, literary and historical context of “the unknown citizen”, more “the unknown citizen” resources, external resources.

In Auden's Own Voice — "The Unknown Citizen" read by the poet himself. 

Auden's Life and Work — A valuable resource from the Poetry Foundation. 

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — More information about the Tomb that exists in Arlington National Cemetary.

The Elegy Form — Ten brilliant elegies, taken from the classical era all the way up to the contemporary. 

The Five-Year Plans — An educational resource looking at the way Russia restructured its society in the 20th century. 

LitCharts on Other Poems by W. H. Auden

As I Walked Out One Evening

Epitaph on a Tyrant

Funeral Blues (Stop all the clocks)

In Memory of W. B. Yeats

Musée des Beaux Arts

Refugee Blues

September 1, 1939

The More Loving One

The Shield of Achilles

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A Summary and Analysis of W. H. Auden’s ‘The Unknown Citizen’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Its title echoing the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, ‘The Unknown Citizen’ is a poem that demonstrates W. H. Auden’s fine ability to fuse irony and wit with pathos and pity. Written in 1939, the poem was one of the first Auden wrote after he moved from Britain to the United States.

You can read ‘The Unknown Citizen’ here before proceeding to our analysis below.

‘The Unknown Citizen’ begins with a prefatory dedication which identifies this ‘unknown citizen’ only by a number (which roughly follows the structure of US social security numbers).

Auden’s dedication suggests the poem was written to be inscribed on a marble monument to this ‘unknown citizen’, but of course, such a monument is fictional (as is the ‘Bureau of Statistics’ in the poem’s opening line). His ‘unknown citizen’ is being memorialised because of his remarkable averageness.

What is Auden saying with this fake eulogy for the most average of Joes? He’s making a satirical point, and this point is apparent right from that dedication at the start of the poem.

This ‘Unknown Citizen’ has no name: like the narrator of Yevgeny Zamyatin’s 1923 dystopian novel We , he is known only by a number, the number that this fictional Bureau of Statistics uses to identify him. As Patrick McGoohan – playing ‘Number 6’ in the 1960s cult drama The Prisoner – would later protest: ‘I am not a number! I am a free man!’

And this is Auden’s point: in the imagined (future) world of ‘The Unknown Citizen’, people have lost all trace of individuality or personal identity: averageness and conformity are the ideal, and people are just numbers on a file or record somewhere rather than individuals with thoughts, feelings, fears, and aspirations of their own.

How ‘free’ they are is a matter of doubt: the State (back to that rather Orwellian ‘Bureau of Statistics’) has this unknown citizen on file, even though he has apparently committed no crime, and much is known about the life and habits of this decidedly ordinary man, implying state surveillance and monitoring.

There are ‘reports on his conduct’, his Trade ‘Union reports that he paid his dues’, and in turn, the State’s own ‘report on his Union shows it was sound’.

As so often in his poetry, Auden seems almost prophetic: here, in foreseeing the rise of Big Data, social media networks selling our information, and tech companies tracking our digital footprint so they eventually seem to know more about our habits, and our likes and dislikes, than we even do ourselves.

Then there is the broader idea of ‘freedom’ and the role social conditioning plays in restricting our behaviour, because we want to conform, we want to ‘get on’ in life, we want other people’s approval.

He has all the mod cons that a person of his generation in the West is expected to have (a record player, a radio, a car, and a fridge), and socialised with his ‘mates’, dutifully bought a paper every day to keep informed (so say the Press, who have also been watching him), and responded to advertisements appropriately, suggesting a pliable and impressionable consumer.

The newspaper reference does the same thing: think how many times the role of the media in influencing public opinion.

Obviously there’s something sinister in all of this, but what Auden manages so deftly here – and in doing so, reminds us of why he was such a master of tone and poetic voice – is the dystopian writer’s trick of presenting all of this in such a cool, ‘official’ manner that it strikes us as more unsettling.

The ‘voice’ of the poem (we can’t really call them a speaker or narrator, and perhaps we cannot even call them a ‘them’) is that of an official government report.

This obviously chimes with the idea of the public memorial (such as the inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior), but it also enacts the creeping encroachment of the state into people’s private lives, making them public affairs.

The fact that the ‘researchers into Public Opinion’ even know, or profess to know, which opinions this Unknown Citizen held at certain times of the year tells us that we are not a million miles away from the world of ‘thoughtcrime’ that Orwell would help to put at the centre of dystopian writing.

But Orwell is following Auden rather than the other way around: Nineteen Eighty-Four would be published ten years after Auden wrote ‘The Unknown Citizen’ (although the idea of ‘thoughtcrime’ and the ‘thought police’, and indeed the terms, predate Orwell: they first appeared in 1934 in a book about Japan).

Another way of putting this is to argue that tone is central to the effectiveness of ‘The Unknown Citizen’: if Auden had written a poem from his own perspective, or in his own personal ‘voice’ using the lyric ‘I’, to lament this worrying level of state surveillance, he would have risked coming across as too much of a political poet, a poet who is very obviously trying to make a point in a not particularly sophisticated manner.

As Auden’s response to the death of W. B. Yeats , written in the same year as ‘The Unknown Citizen’, demonstrates, he was wary of poetry being used as a mere political tool to ‘make things happen’. The adoption of a flat, bureaucratic state ‘voice’ – a faceless voice, and an impersonal one – gives the poem a dark humour, even while Auden clearly is making a point with the poem.

This adoption of a fictional voice to pay ‘tribute’ to the fictional unknown citizen reaches its most delicious apogee in the poem’s final couplet: this impersonal administrative voice of the government dismisses the question of whether the unknown citizen was ‘free’ or ‘happy’ as absurd.

The final line, ‘Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard’, is sinister in its implication (that nothing about this model citizen’s life was unknown to those who monitored him so closely) but also wonderfully sardonic, even ironic, because it reveals the failure of emotional empathy and imagination the state suffers from: they cannot conceive of anything that cannot be reported on, recorded, or gathered as data.

You can listen to Auden reciting ‘The Unknown Citizen’ here .

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The Unknown Citizen

By W.H. Auden

‘The Unknown Citizen,’ a popular work by W.H. Auden, satirically depicts a dystopian report on a man’s life, exploring individuality and government power.

Auden predominantly found inspiration in religion, politics, morality, and man's interactions with nature.

Poem Analyzed by Emma Baldwin

B.A. English (Minor: Creative Writing), B.F.A. Fine Art, B.A. Art Histories

‘The Unknown Citizen ‘ by W.H. Auden is a 32 line poem that utilizes a number of different rhyming patterns. The poem contains examples of both skillfully written rhyming couplets and seemingly patternless portions of verse that are variable in their end rhymes .  

It is impossible to escape the lighthearted nature with which intense subject matter is being tackled in the poem. In fact, the surprising rhyming couplets add to the humor that is pervasive in this piece.  

The poem begins with the speaker stating the fact that throughout his life there was never one “complaint” against the citizen. No one thought badly of him, in fact, he was more like a “saint” than anything else.   The next section of the poem tells of the man’s popularity. He was well-liked by his friends, social enough to be normal, and dedicated to his work. The man served the “Community” for his entire life. The only lapse in his work for his company was when he went to serve in the “War,” and now, after he has died.  

The speaker also states that the man read the newspapers to a sufficient degree. He went to the hospital once, but left quickly, “cured,” as he should have been. The citizen consumed all the latest technologies, as a “Modern Man” should, and owned the proper devices.  

In the final section of the poem, the speaker concludes his report. He states that the man was “for” war when he was supposed to be, and for “peace,” when the government told him to be. The last lines prompt the questions a reader might have been wondering the whole time. Was this man happy? Was he free? These are things that the speaker sees as “ absurd .” He states that, of course, the man was happy, the government would have “known” if he wasn’t.  

Read more poetry by W.H. Auden here .

Analysis of The Unknown Citizen

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be One against whom there was no official complaint, And all the reports of his conduct agree That, in the modern sense of the old-fashioned word, he was a saint, For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.

Auden has chosen to craft a speaker for the “Unknown Citizen” who is completely concealed, but strangely familiar. He speaks with a candidness and emotionless tenor which is hard to connect with. Once the identity of the speaker is a bit clearer though, one might come to recognize the faceless, seemingly lifeless person of a government worker or customer service representative.  

The speaker is going about his job, as he would any other day, and is not impacted by the facts he is relaying about the “unknown citizen.”   The speaker’s lack of inflection is made up for by the rhymes which are pervasive in his speech .  

It was Auden’s goal in this piece to present the words of a dystopian narrator , to the tune of a rhyme . This contrast is quite forceful as the reader will discover throughout the poem’s 32 lines.

The speaker begins by introducing the main subject of the poem , who will never receive a name or proper identification. The reader will only come to know him through the facts that the “Bureau of Statistics, “the Greater Community,” and other fictional dystopian sounding organizations, have seen fit to share.

The first thing of note that the speaker mentions is that there are no “complaints” lodged against this person. No one stepped forward, during their investigation, to say that he had done some wrong. All of the reports that this speaker has at his disposal tell him that the “unknown citizen” is a “saint.” His record is spotless and pristine.  

This poem certainly reads like a report and it is interesting to consider why these particular facts about this person’s life were chosen. What do these things really tell about someone? It is important to note that there is nothing deeper discussed in these lines. One cannot come to fully know the “unknown citizen” through this report, hence the irony between the title and the goal of the verses .  

Except for the war till the day he retired He worked in a factory and never got fired, (…) That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink. The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day,

In the second set of lines, the report continues. Throughout the “unknown citizen’s” life, he did a number of things to serve the community. In fact, he spent his whole life “serv[ing] the Greater Community.” Capitalization is utilized throughout the poem to acknowledge bodies, or official groups that exist in the world of the poem. The citizen served the community up until the day he died. The only exception was when he went to fight in the “War.” Which war this is meant to be is not made clear.  

The citizen,  

…worked in a factory and never got fired,   But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.  

The man did as he was told, dedicated himself to his work, and was continually in the good graces of his employers. So far this person seems incredibly straightforward. There is not much more revealed besides surface-level details that anyone could infer.  

The man did not have any “odd views” and he always paid his “union dues.” He was on time with payments and was not strange in any way. That is to say, he did not believe in, or participate in anything, that went against the tenants of this dystopian feeling world.  

The man not only did well at work, but he was also popular with his friends. They were social and completely normal. One might at this point be suspicious of the total normalcy that filled this person’s life. Shouldn’t there be more there to see and learn about?

Lines 15-22

And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way. Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured, (…) A gramophone, a radio, a car and a frigidaire. Our researchers into Public Opinion are content

The poem continues and the speaker refers to a number of other organizations that have been keeping an eye on the citizen. The “Press,” presumably a government-run news organization, reported to the speaker that the citizen,  

…bought a paper every day   And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.  

The man was as susceptible to advertising as he was supposed to be, and committed to the news of the day. Continuing in the theme of this dystopia , it is quite likely his life was consumed with the propaganda produced by these agencies. It is hard to know who this person truly was with these purely surface-level details.  

Additionally, the man went to the hospital, but did not stay long. He left “cured” just as he should. He was sufficiently healthy and sufficiently interested in acquiring all the appliances a “Modern Man “would need. He had,  

A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.

Lines 23-29

That he held the proper opinions for the time of the year; When there was peace he was for peace; when there was war he went. (…) Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

In the final section of this piece the speaker concludes his report on the “unknown citizen.” The researchers at “Public Opinion,” perhaps the government organization the speaker works for as he uses, “Our,” conclude that the man had all the “proper opinions.” The propaganda was doing its job and the man believed what he was meant to. He was an advocate for what the government told him to be, whether the was “peace” or “war.”  

The man’s personal life consisted of a normal wife, and “five children” that were “added…to the population.” The number was not too many or too few, it was just “right” for a man of his “generation.”  

The final lines of the piece bring greater attention to the absurdity of the poem’s premise. The speaker, as if defending himself, states that the “question” of whether the citizen was “free” or “happy” is absurd. He was certainly happy, otherwise, “we should…have heard.”  

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There is no reference to a government in the poem, only to the speaker aligning himself with institutions by using the possessive pronoun “our”. Thus the poem can be equally applied to societies that are liberal democracies as well as those that have a heavily centralised state control. This is a poem about the role of data intrusion into private life that facilitates social engineering and control. Written in England in 1939, it was prophetic, as Europe was being sucked into a war of competing totalitarian ideologies. It is equally relevant now, as we can see in scandals such as the data intrusion by Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. It is a humorous poem In its delivery,, but not in the least bit funny in its subject matter. Beware people!

Hi Robert, Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It is true that this piece draws one in with its humour and then surprises with its depth and relevance.

Hi Emma, Thank you for your thoughtful comment. ALSO QUICK TIP: NEVER POO IN THE URINAL, THE WATER DOES NOT BREAK UP THE POO MOLECULES. EPIC FAIL

I really don’t want to know how you discovered that!

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Baldwin, Emma. "The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/w-h-auden/the-unknown-citizen/ . Accessed 18 August 2024.

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The Unknown Citizen Summary: Unveiling the Enigmatic Persona by W.H. Auden

“The Unknown Citizen Summary: Unveiling the Enigmatic Persona by W.H. Auden” explores the thought-provoking poem written by W.H. Auden in 1939. This article delves into the depths of Auden’s work, unraveling the enigmatic persona of the “unknown citizen” and shedding light on the themes of conformity, identity, and the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy. By analyzing the poem’s structure, language, and underlying messages, this article aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of Auden’s poignant commentary on the complexities of modern society.

Background and Context

“The Unknown Citizen Summary: Unveiling the Enigmatic Persona” delves into the profound and thought-provoking poem by W.H. Auden. Published in 1939, during a time of political turmoil and societal shifts, Auden’s poem explores the themes of conformity, identity, and the dehumanization of individuals in a modern, bureaucratic society.

Set against the backdrop of the rise of totalitarian regimes and the erosion of individual freedoms, “The Unknown Citizen” presents a satirical critique of the devaluation of human life in a world obsessed with efficiency and productivity. Auden’s poem challenges the notion of progress and questions the cost at which it is achieved.

The poem takes the form of an epitaph, commemorating an anonymous citizen who has been reduced to a mere statistic, stripped of his individuality and reduced to a set of numbers and data. Through a series of ironic and sarcastic descriptions, Auden highlights the absurdity of a society that values conformity and compliance over personal expression and autonomy.

Auden’s choice of language and tone in “The Unknown Citizen” adds to the poem’s satirical nature. The use of bureaucratic jargon and impersonal language further emphasizes the dehumanization of the individual, as the citizen is reduced to a set of measurable attributes and achievements.

By examining the background and context of “The Unknown Citizen,” readers can gain a deeper understanding of the societal and political climate that influenced Auden’s work. This poem serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of sacrificing individuality and freedom in the pursuit of societal progress, urging readers to question the systems and structures that may devalue human life in the name of efficiency.

Biography of W.H. Auden

Wystan Hugh Auden, commonly known as W.H. Auden, was a renowned English-American poet born on February 21, 1907, in York, England. Auden’s literary contributions spanned over four decades, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. His works encompassed a wide range of themes, including love, politics, religion, and the human condition.

Auden’s early life was marked by a deep interest in literature and poetry. He attended Oxford University, where he became associated with a group of poets known as the Oxford Group, which included notable figures such as Cecil Day-Lewis and Stephen Spender. During this time, Auden’s poetic style began to take shape, characterized by its intellectual depth, technical precision, and emotional intensity.

In the 1930s, Auden’s reputation as a poet grew rapidly, and he became a prominent figure in the literary circles of London. However, his life took a significant turn when he decided to move to the United States in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. Auden settled in New York City, where he would spend the rest of his life.

During his time in America, Auden continued to produce a vast body of work, including some of his most celebrated poems. He explored a wide range of themes, often delving into the complexities of human nature and the societal issues of his time. Auden’s poetry was known for its ability to capture the essence of the human experience, blending wit, irony, and profound insight.

In addition to his poetry, Auden also wrote essays, plays, and librettos, showcasing his versatility as a writer. He was awarded numerous prestigious honors throughout his career, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1948.

W.H. Auden’s legacy as a poet and intellectual continues to resonate today. His works have inspired countless readers and continue to be studied and analyzed by scholars worldwide. Auden’s ability to capture the essence of the human condition and his unwavering commitment to exploring the complexities of life make him an enduring figure in the literary world.

Overview of “The Unknown Citizen”

“The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden is a thought-provoking poem that delves into the complexities of modern society and the loss of individuality within it. The poem presents an overview of a seemingly ordinary citizen who is praised and celebrated by the government for his conformity and adherence to societal norms. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that this celebration is not a testament to the citizen’s achievements or character, but rather a reflection of the government’s desire for a compliant and unquestioning populace. Through its satirical tone and use of irony, “The Unknown Citizen” challenges the notion of what it truly means to be a valued member of society and raises important questions about the erosion of personal identity in the face of societal expectations.

Analysis of the Title

In the section “Analysis of the Title” of the article “The Unknown Citizen Summary: Unveiling the Enigmatic Persona by W.H. Auden,” we delve into the significance of the title and its implications for the poem. The title itself, “The Unknown Citizen,” immediately captures the reader’s attention and raises questions about the identity and status of this individual. By labeling the citizen as “unknown,” Auden suggests that despite living in a society that claims to value individuality and personal achievements, this person remains unrecognized and anonymous. This sets the tone for the poem, as Auden aims to shed light on the dehumanizing effects of a society that reduces individuals to mere statistics and disregards their unique qualities. Through a careful analysis of the title, we can begin to unravel the enigmatic persona that Auden presents in his thought-provoking poem.

Themes Explored in the Poem

In the poem “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden, several themes are explored, shedding light on the enigmatic persona presented in the poem. One of the prominent themes is the dehumanization of individuals in a bureaucratic society. Auden critiques the modern world’s tendency to reduce individuals to mere statistics and numbers, stripping them of their unique identities and reducing them to cogs in the machinery of society. The poem highlights how the unknown citizen is celebrated for his conformity and adherence to societal norms, rather than for his individuality or personal achievements.

Another theme explored in the poem is the loss of individuality and freedom in a society that values conformity. The unknown citizen is portrayed as a model citizen who fulfills all the expectations set by the state, but at the cost of his own autonomy. Auden questions the price individuals pay for societal acceptance and the sacrifices made to fit into the predetermined mold of a “good citizen.” This theme raises important questions about the true meaning of freedom and the extent to which individuals are willing to compromise their own values and desires to conform to societal expectations.

Furthermore, the poem delves into the concept of identity and the role of the individual in society. The unknown citizen is depicted as a faceless figure, known only by his identification number and his adherence to societal norms. Auden challenges the notion that one’s identity can be defined solely by external factors, such as occupation or social status. He suggests that true identity lies in the intangible qualities that make each person unique, such as their dreams, aspirations, and personal values. By presenting the unknown citizen as a symbol of the faceless masses, Auden prompts readers to reflect on their own identities and the importance of preserving individuality in a world that often seeks to homogenize its citizens.

In conclusion, “The Unknown Citizen” explores several thought-provoking themes, including the dehumanization of individuals in a bureaucratic society, the loss of individuality and freedom in the pursuit of conformity, and the significance of identity in a world that often values uniformity. Auden’s poem serves as a powerful critique of societal norms and challenges readers to question the price they are willing to pay for acceptance and the importance of preserving their own unique identities.

Social Critique in “The Unknown Citizen”

In W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen,” social critique takes center stage as the poet delves into the enigmatic persona of an ordinary citizen. Through a satirical lens, Auden exposes the conformity and dehumanization prevalent in modern society.

The poem begins with a seemingly positive tone, as the citizen is praised for his conformity to societal norms. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes evident that this conformity comes at the cost of individuality and personal freedom. The citizen is reduced to a mere statistic, known only by his identification number and his adherence to societal expectations.

Auden’s critique extends to the government and its role in shaping the lives of its citizens. The poem highlights the bureaucratic machinery that reduces individuals to mere cogs in a larger system. The citizen’s life is meticulously documented and evaluated, with his actions and behaviors measured against societal standards. This emphasis on quantifiable achievements and conformity reflects the dehumanizing nature of a society that values efficiency and productivity above all else.

Furthermore, Auden questions the notion of success and the criteria by which it is measured. The citizen is deemed successful based on his ability to fulfill societal roles and responsibilities, such as paying taxes and participating in community activities. However, this definition of success fails to consider the citizen’s personal desires, dreams, and aspirations. In this way, Auden challenges the prevailing notion of success and prompts readers to question the true meaning of a fulfilled life.

Through his social critique, Auden invites readers to reflect on the dangers of conformity and the loss of individuality in modern society. He raises important questions about the role of the government, the definition of success, and the impact of societal expectations on the lives of individuals. “The Unknown Citizen” serves as a powerful reminder of the need to preserve our humanity in the face of a society that often values conformity over individuality.

Structure and Form of the Poem

In the poem “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden, the structure and form play a significant role in conveying the poet’s message. The poem is written in free verse, with no specific rhyme scheme or meter, allowing for a more conversational and natural tone. This choice of form reflects the theme of conformity and the loss of individuality in a modern society.

The poem is divided into nine stanzas, each consisting of varying numbers of lines. This irregular structure mirrors the fragmented nature of the citizen’s life, as well as the disjointed narrative style employed by the speaker. The use of enjambment, where lines run on without punctuation, further enhances this sense of continuous flow and lack of pause, emphasizing the relentless conformity imposed on the citizen.

Additionally, the poem is written in the third person, creating a sense of detachment between the reader and the citizen. This distancing effect highlights the dehumanization of the individual, reducing him to a mere statistic or object of bureaucratic scrutiny. The use of pronouns such as “he” and “his” instead of the citizen’s name further reinforces this depersonalization, emphasizing the loss of identity in a society that values conformity above all else.

Overall, the structure and form of “The Unknown Citizen” contribute to the poem’s exploration of the enigmatic persona. Through the use of free verse, irregular stanzas, and detached third-person narration, Auden effectively conveys the dehumanization and loss of individuality experienced by the citizen in a society obsessed with conformity.

Imagery and Symbolism

In W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen,” imagery and symbolism play a crucial role in unraveling the enigmatic persona of the titular character. Through vivid and thought-provoking imagery, Auden paints a picture of a society that values conformity and superficial achievements over individuality and genuine human connection.

One of the most striking images in the poem is the “marble monument” erected in honor of the Unknown Citizen. This symbolizes the dehumanization of the individual, reducing him to a mere statistic or a nameless figure in the eyes of society. The use of the word “marble” suggests a cold and lifeless material, emphasizing the lack of warmth and humanity in the way the citizen is remembered.

Furthermore, Auden employs the symbol of the “Social Psychology Workers” who conduct surveys and analyze data to determine the citizen’s conformity to societal norms. This symbolizes the intrusive nature of a surveillance state, where individuals are constantly monitored and evaluated based on their adherence to predetermined standards. The use of the word “workers” implies a mechanized and impersonal approach to understanding human behavior, further emphasizing the devaluation of individuality.

Additionally, Auden employs vivid imagery to depict the citizen’s life as a series of mundane routines and mindless consumerism. The poem mentions the citizen’s “normal opinions” and his “normal reactions,” highlighting the lack of critical thinking and independent thought. The image of the citizen “holding a cup of coffee” and “listening to the radio” further reinforces the idea of a monotonous existence, devoid of genuine human experiences and emotions.

Through these powerful images and symbols, Auden invites readers to question the price of conformity and the loss of individuality in a society that values efficiency and productivity above all else. The Unknown Citizen serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to resist the pressures of conformity and to embrace our unique identities in the face of societal expectations.

Language and Tone

In W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen,” the language and tone play a crucial role in unraveling the enigmatic persona of the central character. The poem adopts a detached and bureaucratic tone, mirroring the society it critiques. The language used is simple and straightforward, resembling the language of official documents and reports. This choice of language serves to emphasize the dehumanization and conformity prevalent in the modern world. The poem’s tone is ironic, as it presents the life of the unknown citizen as a model of conformity and compliance, while subtly critiquing the loss of individuality and freedom in a society obsessed with efficiency and productivity. Through its language and tone, “The Unknown Citizen” invites readers to reflect on the dangers of sacrificing personal identity and autonomy in the pursuit of societal ideals.

Interpretation of the Enigmatic Persona

In the section “Interpretation of the Enigmatic Persona,” the enigmatic nature of the persona in W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen” is explored. The poem presents a seemingly ordinary citizen who is praised by the state for his conformity and lack of individuality. However, beneath the surface, there is a sense of mystery surrounding this character.

One interpretation of the enigmatic persona is that the poem is a critique of the dehumanizing effects of a society that values conformity above all else. The unknown citizen is celebrated for his adherence to societal norms and his lack of any distinguishing characteristics. This raises questions about the true nature of his identity and the extent to which he has sacrificed his individuality for the sake of fitting in.

Another interpretation suggests that the enigmatic persona represents the loss of personal agency in a bureaucratic society. The unknown citizen is reduced to a mere statistic, known only by his identification number and the various records kept by the state. This raises concerns about the erosion of personal freedom and the dangers of a society that values efficiency and control over individual autonomy.

Furthermore, the enigmatic persona may also symbolize the anonymity and insignificance of the individual in a modern, industrialized world. The unknown citizen is portrayed as a faceless figure, lost in the sea of other faceless figures who make up the masses. This raises questions about the value of the individual in a society that prioritizes collective progress and societal order.

Overall, the enigmatic persona in “The Unknown Citizen” invites readers to question the nature of identity, conformity, and individuality in a complex and often impersonal world. Through its exploration of the enigmatic persona, the poem challenges readers to consider the consequences of sacrificing personal agency and individuality for the sake of societal expectations.

Comparison to Other Works by W.H. Auden

In comparison to other works by W.H. Auden, “The Unknown Citizen” stands out as a thought-provoking and enigmatic piece. While Auden is known for his ability to blend social commentary with poetic language, this particular poem takes a unique approach in exploring the complexities of modern society.

Unlike Auden’s more abstract and introspective works, such as “Funeral Blues” or “September 1, 1939,” “The Unknown Citizen” adopts a narrative style that presents a clear storyline. The poem tells the story of an ordinary citizen who is praised by the government for his conformity and lack of individuality. This satirical approach is reminiscent of Auden’s earlier works, where he often critiqued the conformity and dehumanization of society.

Furthermore, “The Unknown Citizen” can be seen as a departure from Auden’s more personal and emotional poems. While his other works often delve into themes of love, loss, and existentialism, this poem focuses on the collective experience of the masses. It highlights the dangers of a society that values conformity over individuality, and the consequences of losing one’s identity in the pursuit of societal approval.

In terms of style, “The Unknown Citizen” showcases Auden’s mastery of language and rhythm. The poem is written in a formal and structured manner, with regular rhyme and meter. This adds to the overall satirical tone of the piece, as it mimics the bureaucratic language used by the government to describe the citizen. Auden’s use of irony and sarcasm further enhances the poem’s critique of a society that values conformity and efficiency above all else.

Overall, “The Unknown Citizen” stands as a unique and powerful work in Auden’s repertoire. Its narrative style, social commentary, and satirical tone set it apart from his other poems, while still showcasing his poetic prowess. Through this poem, Auden challenges readers to question the role of the individual in society and the dangers of sacrificing one’s identity for the sake of conformity.

Reception and Impact of “The Unknown Citizen”

The reception and impact of W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen” has been both profound and varied. Since its publication in 1939, the poem has sparked numerous discussions and interpretations among literary scholars, critics, and readers alike.

One of the most notable aspects of the poem’s reception is its ability to resonate with different generations and societies. Despite being written over 80 years ago, “The Unknown Citizen” continues to captivate readers with its timeless themes of conformity, bureaucracy, and the loss of individuality in modern society. Auden’s portrayal of the unknown citizen as a faceless, nameless entity, reduced to mere statistics and societal expectations, strikes a chord with individuals living in an increasingly impersonal and standardized world.

Furthermore, the poem’s impact extends beyond the realm of literature. “The Unknown Citizen” has been widely referenced and alluded to in various forms of media, including films, music, and even political speeches. Its themes and messages have been used to critique and analyze contemporary issues such as government surveillance, consumerism, and the erosion of personal freedoms.

However, the poem has not been without its fair share of controversy. Some critics argue that Auden’s portrayal of the unknown citizen as a passive and obedient figure undermines the importance of individual agency and resistance against oppressive systems. Others contend that the poem’s satirical tone and use of irony may be lost on some readers, leading to misinterpretations and misunderstandings.

Regardless of these debates, it is undeniable that “The Unknown Citizen” has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Its exploration of the complexities of modern society and the individual’s place within it continues to provoke thought and reflection. As long as societies grapple with issues of conformity, identity, and the balance between the collective and the individual, Auden’s poem will remain a relevant and thought-provoking piece of literature.

Historical and Cultural Context

In order to fully grasp the essence of W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen,” it is crucial to delve into its historical and cultural context. Written in 1939, during a time of political turmoil and social unrest, the poem reflects the anxieties and uncertainties of the era.

The poem was composed just before the outbreak of World War II, a period marked by the rise of totalitarian regimes and the erosion of individual freedoms. Auden, a British poet, was deeply affected by the political climate of the time, and his work often explored themes of conformity, bureaucracy, and the dehumanization of society.

“The Unknown Citizen” can be seen as a critique of the modern industrialized world, where individuals are reduced to mere statistics and their worth is measured solely by their ability to conform to societal norms. The poem satirically portrays a nameless citizen who is celebrated by the state for his unquestioning obedience, his adherence to societal expectations, and his unremarkable life.

Auden’s poem challenges the notion of individuality and questions the true meaning of citizenship in a society that values conformity above all else. By presenting the unknown citizen as a faceless entity, Auden highlights the dehumanizing effects of a system that values efficiency and productivity over personal freedom and expression.

Furthermore, the historical context of the poem adds another layer of significance. As the world teetered on the brink of war, Auden’s poem serves as a cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of blind conformity and the erosion of individuality. It serves as a reminder that in times of political turmoil, it is essential to question authority and preserve one’s own identity.

In conclusion, understanding the historical and cultural context of “The Unknown Citizen” is crucial to fully appreciate the poem’s message. Auden’s critique of conformity and dehumanization resonates not only with the era in which it was written but also with contemporary society, reminding us of the importance of individuality and the dangers of sacrificing it for the sake of societal expectations.

Relevance of the Poem in Modern Society

In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, the relevance of poetry may seem questionable to some. However, W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen” proves that poetry still holds immense significance in modern society. This thought-provoking piece delves into the complexities of conformity, bureaucracy, and the loss of individuality in a world obsessed with efficiency and societal expectations.

“The Unknown Citizen” serves as a powerful critique of the dehumanizing effects of modern society. Auden’s persona, the unknown citizen, is portrayed as a faceless entity, reduced to a mere statistic in the eyes of the government and society. This resonates deeply with contemporary readers who often feel trapped within the confines of societal norms and expectations.

Furthermore, the poem raises important questions about the erosion of personal freedoms and the dangers of a society that values conformity over individuality. In an era where social media and technology dominate our lives, the pressure to conform and present a polished image is stronger than ever. Auden’s poem serves as a reminder to question the status quo and to resist the urge to sacrifice our true selves for the sake of societal acceptance.

Moreover, “The Unknown Citizen” sheds light on the dangers of excessive bureaucracy and the loss of human connection. The poem highlights the absurdity of a society that values efficiency and productivity above all else, even at the expense of human happiness and fulfillment. In an age where algorithms and automated systems dictate our lives, Auden’s poem serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to prioritize human connection and empathy over mindless adherence to bureaucratic systems.

In conclusion, “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden remains highly relevant in modern society. Its exploration of conformity, bureaucracy, and the loss of individuality strikes a chord with readers who grapple with the pressures of a fast-paced and impersonal world. This poem serves as a powerful reminder to question societal norms, embrace our true selves, and prioritize human connection in an increasingly dehumanizing society.

Analysis of Specific Stanzas or Verses

In the poem “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden, there are several stanzas and verses that warrant closer analysis. One such stanza is the third stanza, which reads:

“He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be.

One against whom there was no official complaint,

And all the reports on his conduct agree.

That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint,”.

This stanza highlights the irony and satire that Auden employs throughout the poem. The Bureau of Statistics, a seemingly objective and impartial institution, determines the worth of the citizen based solely on the absence of any official complaint against him. This suggests that the society in which the citizen lives values conformity and obedience above all else. The phrase “in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint” further emphasizes this point, as it implies that the qualities traditionally associated with sainthood have been redefined and reduced to mere compliance with societal norms.

Another verse that demands analysis is the final line of the poem:

“And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education.”

This line serves as a biting critique of the education system and its emphasis on conformity. The fact that the citizen is praised for not interfering with the education of others suggests that independent thinking and questioning are discouraged in this society. Instead, the ideal citizen is one who passively accepts the information presented to them without question or challenge. This verse raises important questions about the purpose of education and the role it plays in shaping individuals and society.

Overall, the specific stanzas and verses in “The Unknown Citizen” provide valuable insights into the enigmatic persona presented by Auden. Through irony and satire, Auden challenges societal norms and raises thought-provoking questions about conformity, individuality, and the role of institutions in shaping our lives.

Exploration of Irony and Satire

In the section “Exploration of Irony and Satire,” W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen” takes center stage as a prime example of his mastery in employing these literary devices. Through the lens of irony and satire, Auden unveils the enigmatic persona of the unknown citizen, challenging societal norms and questioning the true meaning of individuality in a modern, bureaucratic world.

Irony permeates the poem as Auden presents a seemingly ideal citizen who is celebrated by the state for his conformity and compliance. The unknown citizen is depicted as a model of efficiency, fulfilling all the requirements set by the government. However, the irony lies in the fact that this model citizen is reduced to a mere statistic, stripped of his unique identity and reduced to a number. Auden’s use of irony here highlights the dehumanizing effects of a society that values conformity over individuality.

Satire, on the other hand, is employed by Auden to critique the mechanization of human life in a bureaucratic system. The poem satirizes the government’s obsession with quantifying and categorizing its citizens, reducing them to mere cogs in a machine. The unknown citizen is praised for his predictable behavior, his conformity to societal norms, and his unquestioning acceptance of authority. Through satire, Auden exposes the absurdity of a society that values uniformity and obedience above all else, effectively critiquing the loss of personal freedom and autonomy.

By exploring irony and satire in “The Unknown Citizen,” Auden challenges readers to reflect on the dangers of a society that values conformity and compliance over individuality and personal expression. Through his masterful use of these literary devices, Auden forces us to question the true meaning of citizenship and the role of the individual in a modern, bureaucratic world.

Discussion of the Citizen’s Identity

In the section “Discussion of the Citizen’s Identity,” W.H. Auden delves into the enigmatic persona of the unknown citizen, unraveling the complexities of his identity and the implications it holds in a society driven by conformity. Auden raises thought-provoking questions about the true essence of individuality and the extent to which one’s identity can be defined by external factors.

The poem presents the unknown citizen as a model citizen, someone who adheres to societal norms and fulfills his duties as expected. However, Auden challenges the notion of this seemingly perfect citizen by questioning the authenticity of his identity. Is the unknown citizen truly known, or is he merely a product of the system, a faceless entity molded by the expectations of society?.

Auden highlights the paradoxical nature of the citizen’s identity, emphasizing the irony of being known as the “unknown” citizen. This paradox reflects the loss of individuality in a society that values conformity above all else. The citizen’s identity becomes a mere statistic, reduced to numbers and data that fail to capture the essence of his being.

Furthermore, Auden explores the role of technology and bureaucracy in shaping the citizen’s identity. The poem mentions various organizations and institutions that monitor and regulate the citizen’s life, further eroding his individuality. The citizen becomes a cog in the machinery of the state, stripped of his uniqueness and reduced to a mere functionary.

Through this discussion, Auden prompts readers to reflect on their own identities and the extent to which they are shaped by external forces. Are we truly known for who we are, or are we merely defined by our roles and responsibilities in society? The unknown citizen serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the dangers of losing our individuality in the pursuit of conformity.

In conclusion, the section “Discussion of the Citizen’s Identity” in W.H. Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen” delves into the complexities of the unknown citizen’s identity, challenging the notion of individuality in a society driven by conformity. Auden’s thought-provoking questions and exploration of the citizen’s paradoxical nature serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving one’s true identity in the face of societal pressures.

Exploration of the Citizen’s Conformity

In the exploration of the citizen’s conformity, W.H. Auden delves into the intricate layers of societal expectations and the impact they have on individual identity. Through his poem “The Unknown Citizen,” Auden presents a thought-provoking analysis of the modern citizen’s existence, highlighting the paradoxical nature of conformity and its consequences.

Auden’s enigmatic persona, the unknown citizen, serves as a symbol for the faceless masses who conform to societal norms without question. The poem meticulously dissects the citizen’s life, meticulously listing his accomplishments and adherence to societal expectations. From his impeccable record of paying his dues to various organizations to his conformity to societal norms, the unknown citizen appears to be the epitome of a model citizen.

However, as Auden peels back the layers of the unknown citizen’s life, a sense of irony and loss of individuality emerges. The citizen’s conformity, rather than being celebrated, becomes a cause for concern. Auden questions the true value of a life lived solely to meet societal expectations, devoid of personal desires and aspirations.

Through his exploration of the citizen’s conformity, Auden invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the extent to which they conform to societal norms. Are we truly living authentic lives, or are we merely fulfilling the expectations imposed upon us? The poem serves as a reminder that conformity, while providing a sense of security and acceptance, can also stifle individuality and hinder personal growth.

In this section of the article, we will delve deeper into Auden’s portrayal of the unknown citizen’s conformity, examining the societal pressures that shape his existence and the implications of such conformity on the individual and society as a whole. By unraveling the enigmatic persona, we hope to shed light on the complexities of conformity and ignite a dialogue on the importance of embracing one’s true self in a world that often demands conformity.

Analysis of the Poem’s Final Lines

In the final lines of W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen,” the enigmatic persona is unveiled, leaving readers with a sense of both admiration and unease. The poem, which explores the concept of an anonymous citizen who conforms to societal expectations, concludes with a powerful statement that encapsulates the complex nature of the unknown citizen’s existence.

Auden’s use of the phrase “Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard” is particularly striking. On the surface, it seems to suggest that the unknown citizen lived a faultless life, adhering to all the rules and regulations imposed by society. However, upon closer examination, this statement reveals a chilling truth. It implies that any form of dissent or individuality would have been swiftly silenced, as the system in place is designed to suppress any deviation from the norm.

The poem’s final lines also highlight the irony of the unknown citizen’s existence. While he is celebrated as a model citizen, his individuality and personal desires are completely erased. He is reduced to a mere statistic, a cog in the machinery of a faceless bureaucracy. The phrase “And all the reports on his conduct agree” further emphasizes this point, as it suggests that the unknown citizen’s actions were constantly monitored and evaluated, leaving no room for personal autonomy.

Moreover, the poem’s concluding lines raise questions about the true meaning of a fulfilled life. Is it enough to conform to societal expectations and be deemed a model citizen, or is there something more profound that is lost in the process? Auden’s ambiguous ending leaves readers pondering these existential questions, forcing them to confront the unsettling reality of a society that values conformity over individuality.

In conclusion, the analysis of the poem’s final lines in “The Unknown Citizen” reveals the enigmatic persona’s true nature and the underlying themes of conformity and individuality. Auden’s skillful use of language and irony leaves readers with a sense of unease, challenging them to question the true meaning of a fulfilled life in a society that values conformity above all else.

Critical Analysis of The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden

The Unknown Citizen by W. H. Auden (To JS/07 M 378 This Marble Monument Is Erected by the State) He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be One against whom there was no official complaint, And all the reports on his conduct agree That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint, For in everything he did he served the Greater Community. Except for the War till the day he retired He worked in a factory and never got fired, But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc. Yet he wasn’t a scab or odd in his views, For his Union reports that he paid his dues, (Our report on his Union shows it was sound) And our Social Psychology workers found That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink. The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way. Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured, And his Health-card shows he was once in hospital but left it cured. Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan And had everything necessary to the Modern Man, A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire. Our researchers into Public Opinion are content That he held the proper opinions for the time of year; When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went. He was married and added five children to the population, Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation. And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education. Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

A Critical Analysis of the Poem Wystan Hugh Auden was an American poet of British origin, who was born in York, England in 1907. He studied in Christ Church, Oxford and in his youth was influenced by poets like Thomas Hardy, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. His first collection of poems titled "Poems" was privately published in 1928, but it was in 1930 when a second collection called "Poems"(with a different set of poems) was published that he came to be known for his ability to write on current topics and in many verse forms. He carved a niche for himself among Modern poets. He travelled to Germany, Iceland, China and also served in the Spanish Civil war. These journeys broadened his intellectual horizon and the experiences provided him a sound base for his writings. In fact, his poetry portrays a longing , a journey, a quest. In 1939 he moved to America and became an American citizen. It was here that his thinking changed from socialism to Christianity and theology. He was a celebrated playwright, an essayist and editor too. His works exuded great influence on both sides of the Atlantic. He died in 1973 in Vienna, Austria.

In the poem "The Unknown Citizen" Auden has very aptly described the life of a modern man, a faceless, assembly line produced entity and has also described modern society where any aberration to the rule is frowned upon. This poem is written in blank verse, the tool of modern poets which has no rhyme , no metre ,to express their angst against society. Blank verse is a form of rebellion against the accepted norms of verse which were prevalent during the previous eras. The poet uses satire to caricature the life of "The citizen", who is just a numerical on the population register. He is supposed to lead a life which is to be led by a million other beings. In fact, one can catch a glimpse of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier where the name of a person who has laid down his life for his country does not even merit a mention.

Auden has perfectly used this literary form to create a picture of the Orwellian society where Big Brother, i.e. the government keeps a tab on everything an individual does, right from his birth to his death. He is registered by a number, no name because a name would give him an identity. He is a record in the Bureau of Statistics His existence on earth is monitored by different government agencies. While reading the poem one gets a feeling of a communist/socialist society where each person’s contribution to larger good of the community is got be his/her only goal, where deviating from the beaten track shall be noted and maybe, punished. The citizen in question did whatever was expected of him and therefore in the "modern sense" was a saint. He did not create any trouble for anyone, did the right thing at the right time, he went to war when it was demanded of him and came back to work after the war. He did not use his opinion to influence anyone, not even himself. In fact he did not think at all. He fulfilled all the criteria that portray him as a successful man. His house had all the modern gadgets of that era, right from a radiogram to a refrigerator and yes, the right number of children too. So regulated was his life that he responded to advertisements in the correct manner. He went through life like a zombie and so the state rewards him with an epitaph. The reader has a feeling of invasion of privacy by the state, which is very much a part of modern day life, whether we like it or not. It is, as if Auden had a premonition of what modern day life would be like. We, in the 21st century too, lead a similar life, though we hardly realize it. Nobody is bothered about an individual’s happiness; in fact the word is fast becoming synonymous with material acquisitions. He very rightly asks "Was he free? Was he happy?", because these feelings have really become outdated.

The portrayal of an individual in today’s society by Auden is rather scary because we have become immune to all those feelings that were meant to set us apart as human beings, the best amongst God’s creations. We have all lost our identity and are, let’s face it, a part of a faceless crowd.

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W. H. Auden: Poems

By w. h. auden, w. h. auden: poems summary and analysis of "the unknown citizen".

The poem begins with an ironic epigraph, “To JS/07 M 378 / This Marble Monument / Is Erected by the State.”

The Bureau of Statistics and all other reports show that he will complied with his duties to “the Greater Community.” He worked in a factory and paid his union dues. He had no odd views. The Social Psychology investigators found him to be normal, as did the Press: he was popular, “liked a drink,” bought the daily paper, and had the “normal” reactions to advertisements. He was fully insured. The Health-card report shows he was in the hospital only once, and left cured.

The Producers Research and High-Grade Living investigators also showed he was normal and “had everything necessary to the Modern Man”—radio, car, etcetera. The Public Opinion researchers found “he held the proper opinions for the time of year,” supporting peace in peacetime but serving when there was war. He was married and had the appropriate number of five children, according to the Eugenicist. He never interfered with the public schools.

It is absurd to ask whether he was free or happy, for if anything had been wrong, “we should certainly have heard.”

“The Unknown Citizen” (1940) is one of Auden’s most famous poems. Often anthologized and read by students in high school and college, it is renowned for its wit and irony in complaining about the stultifying and anonymous qualities of bureaucratic, semi-socialist Western societies. Its structure is that of a satiric elegy, as though the boring, unknown citizen was so utterly unremarkable that the state honored him with a poetic monument about how little trouble he caused for anyone. It resembles the “Unknown Soldier” memorials that nations erect to honor the soldiers who fought and died for their countries and whose names have been lost to posterity; Britain’s is located in Westminster Abbey and the United States’ is located in Arlington, Virginia. This one, in an unnamed location, lists the unknown man as simply “JS/07 M 378.”

The rhyme scheme changes a few times throughout the poem. Most frequently the reader notices rhyming couplets. These sometimes use the same number of syllables, but they are not heroic couplets—no, they are not in iambic pentameter—they are often 11 or 13 syllables long, or of differing lengths. These patterns increase the dry humor of the poem.

Auden’s “Unknown Citizen” is not anonymous like the Unknown Soldier, for the bureaucracy knows a great deal about him. The named agencies give the sense, as early as 1940, that a powerful Big Brother kind of bureaucracy watches over its citizens and collects data on them and keeps it throughout one’s life. This feeling makes the poem eerie and prescient; one often thinks of the dystopian, totalitarian states found in the writings of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley or the data-driven surveillance state of today. In Auden’s context, one might think of the state-focused governments of Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini.

The Big Brother perspective begins from the very outset of the poem, with its evocation of a Bureau of Statistics. The man has had every aspect of his life catalogued. He served his community, he held a job, he paid union dues, he did not hold radical views, he reacted normally to advertisements, he had insurance, he possessed the right material goods, he had proper opinions about current events, and he married and had the right amount of children. It does not appear on paper that he did anything wrong or out of place. In fact, “he was a saint” from the state’s perspective, having “served the Greater Community.” The words used to describe him—“normal,” “right,” “sensible,” “proper,” “popular”—indicate that he is considered the ideal citizen. He is praised as “unknown” because there was nothing interesting to know. Consider, in comparison, the completely normalized protagonist Emmet in The Lego Movie .

At the end of the poem, the closing couplet asks, “Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: / Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.” With these last lines comes the deeper meaning of the poem, the irony that despite all of the bureaucratic data gathering, some aspect of the individual might not have been captured. It becomes clear that the citizen is also “unknown” because in this statistical gathering of data, the man’s individuality and identity are lost. This bureaucratic society, focused on its official view of the common good, assesses a person using external, easily-catalogued characteristics rather than respect for one’s uniqueness, one’s particular thoughts, feelings, hopes, fears, and goals.

Interestingly, and ironically, the speaker himself is also unknown. The professionals in the poem— “his employers,” “our Social Psychology workers,” “our researchers into Public Opinion,” “our Eugenicist”— are just as anonymous and devoid of personality. While a person might be persuaded that he is free or happy, the evidence of his life shows that he is just one more cog in the faceless, nameless bureaucratic machine.

W. H. Auden: Poems Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for W. H. Auden: Poems is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Q) Discuss WH. Auden's vernacular language in the poem " Funeral Blues?

Check this out:

https://www.gradesaver.com/w-h-auden-poems/study-guide/summary-funeral-blues-stop-all-the-clocks

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The Nabarra

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Study Guide for W. H. Auden: Poems

W. H. Auden: Poems study guide contains a biography of Wystan Hugh Auden, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, character analysis, and a full summary and analysis on select poems.

• About W. H. Auden: Poems
• W. H. Auden: Poems Summary
• Character List

Essays for W. H. Auden: Poems

W. H. Auden: Poems essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of W. H. Auden's poetry.

• Communist Poetry of the 1930s and Modernism
• Three Examples of Auden’s Wartime Poetry: In Time of War: Sonnet XVI, Spain 1937, and 1st September 1939
• Auden's Poetry and "Home and Away": Art in Wartime
• Recycling Art; the Reuse of Artistic Thought and Theme in Auden, Joyce, and Eliot
• Understanding Rejection in “Disabled” and “Refugee Blues”

Wikipedia Entries for W. H. Auden: Poems

• Introduction

Analysis of “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden

The unknown citizen is without doubt one of the vital poems of W.H Auden with a recurrent theme, the dilemma and chaos modern man faces within the quickly altering world. The poem was written in 1939, throughout the horrific situation of world war 2 and on this poem Auden encapsulates the postwar chaos and its up roots. Besides immense bodily struggling, Auden highlights how troublesome it’s to retain individuality and identification in quick altering world of chaos. The theme of loss of identification accompanied by these materialism of contemporary man, conformism, manipulation, encroachment of technology on the lives of people, lack of true freedom and lack of values are predominant within the poem.

It was the time of authoritarianism in Europe, and amid dictatorship within the varied international locations in Europe, Man as a rational particular person was shedding his stance and distinctiveness. The definition of the typical citizen was confined to how properly he conformed. With ever-advancing technology of the modern world it’s as if humanity of the world is reducing. Humans have gotten increasingly like faceless residents, or unknown citizens. It is due to this technology that people have turned out to be nothing greater than statistics and information on a chunk of paper. The image that the poem paints of a ‘Modern Man’ is that he’s somebody who’s devoid of the values that make him human. He has no notion of freedom or happiness. Emotions, feelings, desires and hopes don’t matter anymore.

Read About: Analysis of “In the Praise of Limestone” by W.H. Auden

He talks concerning the endeavor and battle of the modern man to adapt to the norms set by the facility constructions which makes him an accepted and respectable citizen however, by doing so he fails to get his important pleasures. It is a critique on totalitarianism eliminating democracy as a result of all through the poem it’s seen how the unknown citizen is compelled to do all of the works of various organizations and Auden sarcastically mocks him concerning the appreciation he get from totally different businesses. In the very starting of the poem, as a substitute of mentioning the unknown citizen by the title he has been represented via a figure „ ‟To JS/07/M/378/ „‟ which exhibits the immense control of state over the unknown citizen. Furthermore, the phrase „ ‟saint „‟ has been sarcastically used for the unknown citizen that he’s a saint who sacrifices his happiness and conforms to what he has been advised by the state. The authorities sees him as a quantity on a file in a drawer in some government building. The solely factor that would determine him from others in his neighborhood is as Auden wrote,

“He was married and added five children to the population,

Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation”

This nonetheless provides an obscure reference to how old he could be. He buys numerous things that are taxable to assist the federal government. He possesses all the things a contemporary man has, however relinquishes his identification to serve the state. This conformity and subservience to the state exhibits full lack of identification and individuality. Conformity has created apathetic and obedient citizens which is precisely what the federal government needs. Therefore, Auden believes that conformity is harmful.

At the end of the poem the poet asks two essential questions. Was he free? Was he completely satisfied? No authorities statistics can ever reply these sorts of questions. By asking these questions, the poet is drawing our consideration to the query of freedom and happiness. Therefore, such a query on this context could be „absurd‟. The solely manner for a person to outlive in a regimented society is to adapt and obey. The unknown citizen is devoid of any urge for self-assertion. The poet means that our society has created an algorithm and rules wherein people are purported to comply with and work because the system states. The stress for people to adapt on this system makes one loses his or her individualism. An ideally suited citizen, then, is the one who fulfills the social expectations of habits. Auden satirizes the sort of strategy to human behavior which judges the residents based on their usefulness for the higher goodness.

The Unknown Citizen Themes:

Theme of identity:.

By definition, the Unknown Citizen has no identification. With the associated idea of the Unknown Soldier, it’s the soldier’s physical remains, or useless physique, that can’t be recognized. But for the Unknown Citizen, it’s extra that his life was so standard that he didn’t distinguish himself in any manner from his fellow residents. There have to be hundreds, even hundreds of thousands, of Unknown Citizens out there, about whom little could be mentioned, besides that they didn’t get in anybody’s manner.

Theme of Manipulation:

Monuments and public celebrations are all the time political. Now, “political” doesn’t need to have a damaging connotation, however on this poem, the State is a creepy, manipulative paperwork that’s most involved with stopping oddballs from getting in the best way with the established order. So they’ve created this costly marble monument to the blandest individual within the nation, the one least prone to mess things up for these in power. The inscription on the monument – the poem – tells us nearly nothing concerning the man to whom it’s  devoted. It tries to persuade the imaginary reader to be extra just like the Unknown Citizen. 

Read About: Ted Hughes’ Poetic Style; A Review

Theme of Patriotism:

Some folks say, “My country, right or wrong.” Other folks suppose argument and dissent are the indications of a real patriot. Auden’s poem falls extra towards the latter end of the spectrum. The poem tells us that “in everything he did he served the Greater Community,” however we’re unsure what this implies. 

Title of The Unknown Citizen:

The Unknown Citizen is a parody of “The Unknown Soldier” , a term used to acknowledge folks whose bodies are discovered after a battle which can’t be recognized. The US Army makes use of steel dug tags to establish soldiers who’re killed in action, however these tags could be misplaced or melted and typically it is simply unattainable to find or determine an individual’s remains.

Literary Devices in “The Unknown Citizen”

An oblique reference to some character or occasion in literature, history or mythology that enriches the meanings of the passage.

The title of W.H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen” is an ironic allusion to the unknown tomb of unknown soldier.

There is a verbal irony within the poem “The Unknown Citizen” . It is a comparability between an everyday citizen who goes about his business day by day and leads a really fairly life. The other is the unknown soldier, who acquired numerous monuments from the allied powers of World War 1.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, “The Unknown Citizen ” matches simply into the traits of contemporary literature and highlights the issues that the individuals face in the present day. The citizen stays unknown although he serves the Community as a result of we’re not shown who he actually is as a person which elucidates that individuality is decreased and diminished for the sake of worldly business. The poet says that statistics can not sum up a person and physical information are insufficient to judge human happiness. Therefore, the poem displays Auden’s perception of the idea of control versus freedom which brings to gentle the risks of shedding sense of individuality.

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Study Guide Prepared by Michael J. Cummings ... © 2012

....... The speaker of the poem is a government worker who addresses readers and listeners in first-person-plural point of view (using our and we ) to indicate that he is speaking on behalf of his fellow government employees.

Tone ....... The tone of the poem is objective and businesslike.

Main Theme: Conformity

Our researchers into Public Opinion are content That he held the proper opinions for the time of year; When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went.

1, 3, 5 : be, agree, community 2, 4 : complaint, saint 6, 7 : retired, fired 8, 13 : Inc., drink 9, 10 : views, dues 11, 12 : sound, found 14, 15 : day, way 16, 17 : insured, cured 18, 21, 23 : declare, frigidaire, year 19, 20 : Plan, Man 22, 24 : content, went 25, 26, 27 : population, generation, education 28, 29 : absurd, heard

• Generally, citizens of a democracy should abide by government laws. For example, they should respect the rights of others to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and they should pay their fair share of taxes. However, under certain circumstances, citizens have a right—perhaps even a moral duty—to oppose the will of the government and its laws. Write an essay that explains circumstances under which citizens ought to oppose a government policy or law. To support your thesis, use examples from the past and cite issues in the present with the potential to arouse the wrath of the people.
• Identify a government policy or law with which you disagree. Explain why you disagree with it.
• The words of the poem are an epitaph inscribed on the monument over the tomb of the Unknown Citizen. What would you like your epitaph to say about you when you are lying at eternal rest?
• Write a poem about a deceased person who, unlike the Unknown Citizen, was not afraid to speak out against government policies.

The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden: Summary and Analysis

In this poem Auden shows that poverty and totalitarian regimes are not the only enemies of freedom. Human freedom is restricted in subtle ways in the so-called free capitalist states as well. The average modern man in a mercantile society is ridden heavily by the more of technocratic, bureaucratic and other regimented establishments.

The Unknown Citizen, has no name; he has only a number, to whom the monument has been built and has been found to be without any fault. He was a saint not because he searched for God but because he served the government perfectly. He did not get dismissed from his job. He was a member of the Union and paid all his dues to the union. A report by the Union shows that it was a balance union and did not take extreme views on anything. The social psychology workers found that he was popular among his fellow workers and had a drink with them now and then. He also bought a newspaper every day. He reached to the advertisements normally.

He had good health and although he went to the hospital once, he came out quite cured. The citizen was sensible about buying things on an installment basis. He had everything a modern man needed at home. Moreover, this ideal citizen was found to be sensible in his view. When there was peace, he supported it. But when there was war, he was ready to fight. He didn’t hold his personal views on anything. He had the right number of children and he did not quarrel with the education they got.

Many European governments of that time resorted to dictatorship of some kind or another and the individualism of general citizen was at stake. The average citizen was made absolutely conformist. He had been distorted into a totally dictated harmless mechanism. Everything about him could be understood in some kind of statistical formula put out by the government or its agencies. He had surrendered his individuality and was often identified by a number rather than personality features which were of course common to all citizens. The poet now asks the important questions. Was this man free? Was he happy? No government statistics can ever answer these kinds of questions.

The Unknown Citizen is a typical Auden’s poem in that it shows the poet’s profound concern for the modern world and its problems. A keen, intelligent observer of the contemporary scene, Auden was one of the first to realize that the totalitarian socialist state would be no Utopia and that man there would be reduced to the position of a cog in the wheel. A citizen will have no scope to develop his initiative or to assert his individuality. He will be made to conform to the State in all things. It is the picture of such a citizen, in a way similar to Eliot’s Hollow Men , which is ironically presented in the poem. Auden dramatizes his theme by showing the glaring disparity between the complete statistical information about the citizen compiled by the State and the sad inadequacy of the judgments made about him. The poet seems to say, statistics cannot sum up an individual and physical facts are inadequate to evaluate human happiness- for man does not live by bread alone.

In the phrase 'The Unknown' the word 'unknown' means ordinary, obscure. So the whole phrase means 'those ordinary, obscure soldiers as citizens of the state who laid down their lives for defending their motherland wanted name and fame, but remained unknown. The title of Auden's poem parodies this. Thus 'The Unknown Citizen' means the ordinary average citizen in the modern industrialized urban society. He has no individuality and identity. He has no desire for self-assertion. He likes to remain unknown.

At the end of the poem the poet asks two questions. Was he free? Was he happy? No government statistics can ever answer these kinds of questions. By asking these questions, the poet is drawing our attention to the question of freedom and happiness. And ironically, the poet suggests that the modern man is slave to routine and he is incapable of understanding such concepts freedom and happiness. Therefore, such a question in this context would be ‘absurd’. Thus, this poem The Unknown Citizen is a bitter attack on modern society-its indifference towards individuality and identity. The only way for an individual to survive in a regimented society is to conform, obey and live in perpetual mental slavery. Such a creative is this ‘unknown citizen’ who is utterly devoid of any urge for self-assertion. Such a modern man is a slave to the routine, is incapable of understanding such concepts as freedom and happiness.

The sub-title of the poem vividly shows that it is a memorial poem written for the occasion of the erection of a national monument by the state to the ideal citizen. The irony lies in here that this so called ideal citizen is a valueless, colorless entity, nothing more than the mechanical part of a highly mechanized society. He is made a representative of the mass society and had no distinctive qualities by which one could identify him. The poem is written in a clear and simple style and is free from obscure references.

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The Unknown Citizen

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Poem Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

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Discussion Questions

The Dangers of Conforming to the State

“The Unknown Citizen” makes it clear that there are dangers in conformity, in embracing a system that operates in lockstep. Auden’s poem—told to the reader in the voice of a State that numbers its citizens—shows how such conformity retracts inalienable rights such as freedom and the pursuit of happiness. In this State, the individual is subject to a dystopian surveillance in which only their performance is enumerated. By seeing what the State lauds about the citizen—his conformity—the reader can see what they dislike or hope to eliminate—his individuality.

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The Unknown Citizen by W.H Auden : Summar, Questions Answers and Analysis

Table of Contents

The Unknown Citizen by W.H Auden

Why has the poet chosen a title that he has? Why does he want to talk about a citizen who is unknown?

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All of you would have read poetry that would have touched your hearts where the poet has transported you into another world- a world of imagination which takes us away far away from the real world in which we live. Keats, for example, in the opening line of one of his most famous odes ‘Ode To a Nightingale ‘ says ;

My heart aches, and a drowsy drowsy – sleepy " data-gt-translate-attributes='[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]' tabindex=0 role=link>drowsy numbness pains My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,

WHAT is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?— No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows:

The next line of the poem that our reports on the union said that the opinion of the union was sound tells us of the immense control of the state over the individual. It doesn’t leave him any privacy, any freedom to be on his own. That the citizen was an amiable and sociable man is reported by the Social Psychology workers .The Social Psychology workers, researchers report that he loved to share a drink with his mates it was. It should be noted that it was the pastime of the era that when workers worked for long hours in the factory while returning home stopped at a pub and had a drink as attains the normalcy of the unknown citizen.

The clinical tone which the poet adopts is very apt to describe the flawed methods of the government which based their judgment of an individual on reports and documents of his conformity and his normalcy.

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest– For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men– Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

SHORT ANSWERS

4. Where was the unknown citizen working? When did he leave his job? The unknown citizen was working in a factory named Fudge Motors Inc. He left his job only once. It was to join the army to fight for his country. (Fudge Motors Inc.)

8. What did Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare about the unknown citizen? Producers Research and High-Grade Living declared that the unknown citizen was fully aware of the advantages of the instalment plan. They said that he had bought phonograph, radio, car, fridge etc on instalment basis.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS 1. Short note on the unknown citizen. As far as the modern dictatorial government is concerned, the unknown citizen is the ideal citizen. The government wants all the citizens to be like him. He has surrendered his own individuality in order to conform himself to the wishes of the government. He hasn’t ever created any problems to the government. He has performed everything that the government wanted from every citizen. He has worked in a factory until his retirement. He has been a member in the trade union and paid all his dues properly. He has availed himself of the instalment system and purchased the essential amenities for the house- hold. He has five children and he hasn’t interfered with their education as the government desired. The Unknown Citizen has been healthy, free and happy. The government has erected a monument for the Unknown Citizen for being an ideal citizen.

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The Unknown Citizen By W.H. Auden Summary, Notes And Line By Line Analysis In English

Table of Contents

Introduction

The poem tells us about the existence of an average citizen who is unknown to the community. It explores the “unknown citizen” through the viewpoint of various federal authorities and how he was never seen or heard. 

About The Poet 

Lines 1 – 13.

The speaker claims there were no “official complaints” against the unknown citizen, and he was considered a “saint”. Except when he went to war, he was also profoundly dedicated to serving the “Greater Community.” No one in the administration or his workplace had any problems with him. He was cherished by his peers, and he was outgoing. 

Lines 14 – 21

Lines 22-29, related posts:.

The Unknown Citizen Essay

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The foremost reason why I think W.H. Auden’s poem The Unknown Citizen represents a particularly high literary value is that themes and motifs, explored in it, reflect the discursive realities of a modern living. At their turn, these realities are being concerned with the process of people growing increasingly disfranchised from their sense of self-identity.

This, however, causes them to experience the emotionally disturbing sensation of an existentialist ‘anonymousness’. In my paper, I will aim to explore the validity of this suggestion at length.

When readers get to be exposed to The Unknown Citizen for the first time, many of them end up experiencing the sensation of a cognitive dissonance. This is because, even though the name of this poem implies the lack of a factual information about the citizen in question, the poem’s actual body contains a detailed description of what kind of a man the concerned individual was:

“ He worked in a factory and never got fired,

But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc…

And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,

A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire…

He was married and added five children to the population ” (Auden par. 1).

Nevertheless, after having read the poem, they begin to realize the actual rationale that prompted Auden to name his poetic masterpiece, in the way he did. Apparently, the author wanted to advance the idea that our possession of the statistical data about a particular deceased individual, does not provide us with an insight as to what were the qualitative aspects of his or her stance in life.

This is the reason why, even after having found out about the ‘unknown citizen’ just about everything they could, readers usually do not get closer to understanding what accounted for his actual individuality:

“Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard” (par. 1).

Hence, the philosophical implication of Auden’s poem – despite the fact that in today’s world people can well enjoy a number of life-comforts (due to their ability to afford buying technological gadgets), they nevertheless remain ‘anonymous, in the existentialist sense of this word. This simply could not be otherwise, because nowadays, it is specifically people’s willingness to suppress their individuality, while leading thoroughly conventional lifestyles, which defines their chances of securing well-paid jobs and attaining a social prominence.

However, the same willingness, on these people’s part, makes them less likely to leave a mark in history, while increasing their likelihood to be turned into a nameless ‘cannon meat’, during the time of war – just as it happened to Auden’s ‘unknown citizen’. Therefore, there can be few doubts, as to the thoroughly humanistic sounding of The Unknown Citizen . This is because this poem subtly promotes the idea that the cost of one’s eagerness to lead a conventional lifestyle is his or her ahistoricity (anonymousness).

This is exactly the reason why, I believe this particular Auden’s novel should be recommended for reading – it resonates perfectly well with the discourse of post-modernity, which defines the specifics of a contemporary living in the West. Moreover, it also contains insights as to why, despite their conventional happiness, many of our contemporaries nevertheless continue to experience a number of deep-seated anxieties, in regards to what they really are, as individuals.

I believe that the provided line of argumentation, as to what I consider contributing to Auden poem’s actual value, is being fully consistent with the initial thesis.

Works Cited

Auden, Wystan Hugh. The Unknown Citizen . 2012. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, December 11). The Unknown Citizen. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-unknown-citizen/

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Saturday 17 September 2011

"the unknown citizen" - w.h.auden - critical summary.

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thanks......

this poem is so interseted i liked so much

thank u sooooo much sir... its very useful for me...

Thank you so much Sir. This information is really very helpful for us. Worth reading...!

Thank you. This really helped !

this analysis very useful to understand the poem and also its theme of the poem

I can not easily understand this critical review

Very nice description and explanation to understand the poem. Thank you.

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Joe Biden’s Interrupted Presidency

He sought the office nearly all his life. When he finally got there, it brought out his best — and eventually his worst.

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Robert Draper covers politics for The Times. He interviewed more than two dozen current and former Biden advisers; legislators; and Democratic colleagues and allies in Washington and Wilmington, Del.

• Aug. 18, 2024

Shortly after the 11 minutes were over and President Joseph R. Biden Jr. arose from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office on the evening of July 24, he and his family filed out to the Rose Garden.

Listen to this article, read by Robert Petkoff

A throng of White House staff members were waiting outside, under a slight drizzle, with a faint rainbow emerging overhead. Most of them spent the preceding hour nervously eating pizza in the East Room of the White House before growing hushed to listen to their 81-year-old boss speak to the nation. Several of them had been crying earlier in the day. But midway into his speech, Biden began to enumerate his administration’s considerable legislative achievements — among them, “And we finally beat Big Pharma,” a line he had fatefully mangled in the debate with Donald J. Trump less than a month earlier, abruptly dropping the hammer on his political future. As he proceeded through these shared highlights, the tenor in the East Room seemed to change, and a few of the staff members proudly shook hands and hugged one another.

Now Biden spoke only to them, through a microphone someone handed him (according to a video of the event that I obtained). “My name is Joe Biden, and I’m Jill Biden’s husband,” he began, grinning broadly at his familiar joke, as his wife stood beside him, noticeably more subdued, working through her own emotions. “Look,” he told his aides, “the only reason that we’ve had the progress that we’ve had is because of you. And that’s not hyperbole.” He added, in a raspy but otherwise even voice: “I’m so damned proud to be a part of you. I really mean that.”

Sounding anything but deflated, Biden exhorted his staff members to think about the work there was left to do over their final six months. He wanted to extend prescription-drug benefits. He wanted to force billionaires to pay their fair share in taxes. “We can start to help lay the groundwork for Kamala,” Biden said of his vice president and now heir apparent, who was already out on the campaign trail.

He wrapped up his three minutes of remarks with a stage-whispered call to arms, as if it were a secret plan: “ Let’s elect Kamala!” After their ovation, the president urged his staff to get to work on the ice cream stationed behind them. Biden cracked a few other jokes but didn’t stay for dessert. Instead, the 46th president of the United States retreated with his wife down the walkway to the residence.

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