The unknown citizen poem analysis. The Analysis of Unknown Citizen 2022-10-16

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The "Unknown Citizen" is a poem written by W.H. Auden that uses satire to criticize the way in which a government values its citizens. The poem is written as if it were a eulogy, or a speech given at a funeral, but it is actually a tribute to an average, anonymous citizen who has lived a seemingly unremarkable life.

The poem begins by stating that the unknown citizen was a "model" member of society. He was a "saintly" man who never caused any trouble and always did what he was told. He paid his taxes, followed the rules, and held a steady job at the Ministry of Statistics. The government even built a monument in his honor.

However, as the poem continues, it becomes clear that the government is not really interested in the unknown citizen as a person. They are only interested in the fact that he was a "good" citizen who followed the rules and contributed to society. The poem suggests that the government sees its citizens as nothing more than numbers, and that they are only valued based on their usefulness to the state.

One of the most striking aspects of the "Unknown Citizen" is the way in which the poem presents the government's perspective on its citizens. The speaker of the poem speaks in a tone of cold, detached efficiency, listing the unknown citizen's virtues and accomplishments as if they were nothing more than data points. This contrast between the emotional, human experience of life and the clinical, statistical view of the government highlights the dehumanizing effect of a society that values its citizens only for their usefulness.

Another important aspect of the poem is the way in which it critiques the idea of conformity. The unknown citizen is praised for being a "model" member of society, but this seems to be based on his ability to conform to societal norms rather than on any genuine qualities or achievements. This critique of conformity speaks to the idea that society often values people based on their ability to fit in rather than on their individuality or uniqueness.

Overall, the "Unknown Citizen" is a powerful critique of the way in which society values its citizens. It suggests that society often sees people as nothing more than numbers, valuing them only for their usefulness and conformity to societal norms. The poem's cold, clinical tone and its focus on conformity highlight the dehumanizing effect of this type of thinking and encourage readers to consider the ways in which they value others.

Give a critical appreciation of "The Unknown Citizen" by W. H. Auden.

the unknown citizen poem analysis

In the final section of the poem, the speaker concludes his report. Find Out How UKEssays. H Auden All of you would agree with me that poetry is not easy to understand. He had a gramophone, a car, a frigidaire and a radio. The teacher said that the children of the Unknown Citizen were getting the proper education that the government had insisted. Auden, is a commentary on government and the materialism of modern man.

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The Unknown Citizen: Summary & Analysis

the unknown citizen poem analysis

Auden Wystan Hugh Auden 1907-73 was born in York, England, and was educated at the University of Oxford. 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. Interestingly, and ironically, the speaker himself is also unknown. The poet sarcastically alluding to the make-believe concept that the government enforced that every individual should be classified by an alphanumeric tag. He said that amidst nature he could hear the still sad music of humanity. 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.

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

the unknown citizen poem analysis

The man has to really fight against these forces in order to retain his happiness and his individuality. All Answers ltd, 'Analysis Of The Unknown Citizen English Literature Essay' UKEssays. At the end of the poem Auden rhymes only a few lines at a time to through off the reader. In a nutshell, he had no free will of his own and believed in whatever he was asked to believe in. The compliments he received from others proved that he was working toward success. With the piece of writing being a set of various lyric poems, the content can be hard to unpack but Rankine makes certain that even if the reader misses all the subliminal messages, they will certainly be able to understand the common themes inside the writing.

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The Unknown Citizen Poem Summary and Analysis

the unknown citizen poem analysis

Lines 1 and 2 epitomize this meaning because it says, "Even when I forget you I go on looking for you. Where was the unknown citizen working? Written in free verse, although using many couplets, this poem is a poem that describes the life of a certain person through his records and documents. The title itself is an irony that means, for the citizen has mo name and identity and he is identified through a number given by the state. He had been a professor of poetry at Oxford. It is, as if Auden had a premonition of what modern day life would be like.

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In the Dark: W. H. Auden's "The Unknown Citizen"

the unknown citizen poem analysis

The citizen is being referred to by a number rather than a name. Poet uses an ironic tone with the background of the unemotional language. The way he lived his life was exactly how he wanted it to be. He is a loyal and a friendly man. However, the lines in the poem were organized without meter. Auden ends the poem sarcastically.

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Analysis Of The Poem ' The Unknown Citizen '

the unknown citizen poem analysis

He had the proper number of five children whose education he entrusted entirely to the state. The next few lines talk about the family of the unknown citizen. For example, Auden states that "And all the reports on his conduct agree that, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint" 3-4 which illustrates how all his actions were normal according to the government's standards. However, the "Unknown Citizen" has a monument built as a symbol of his perfection. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education. The policy is taken out in his name proof that he was fully insured.

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W. H. Auden: Poems “The Unknown Citizen” Summary and Analysis

the unknown citizen poem analysis

The man has had every aspect of his life catalogued. The speaker uses diction and irony to criticize the citizen for following the standards set forth by society to encourage the reader to be brave enough to stand out as an individual. 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. Auden during 1940, is a poem where the speaker, a representative of the state or government, directs a speech to the audience about a monument being erected for a citizen. 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. Analysis of The Unknown Citizen Now we will go into detailed analysis of the poem.

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Critical Analysis of The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden — webapi.bu.edu

the unknown citizen poem analysis

The last date is today's date — the date you are citing the material. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. In large cities, monuments are erected for the memory of the unknown soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country. 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. The Social Psychology workers, researchers report that he loved to share a drink with his mates it was.

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The Unknown Citizen by W.H Auden : Summar, Questions Answers and Analysis » Smart English Notes

the unknown citizen poem analysis

The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong we should certainly have Heard. It is a drudgery, and one that people do not even recognize because they are consumed in leading materialistic ways of life, conforming to the state and the society or both. They both address the issue of dying soldiers and blame blind patriotism for the deaths of these soldiers. He represents the mass society and has no distinctive qualities by which one can identify him. This makes the government appear unconcerned with the true thoughts and feelings of its people, seeing them only as statistics.

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The Analysis of Unknown Citizen

the unknown citizen poem analysis

By being yourself you can be truly happy and find the people that are meant to be in your
 The Imposter Analysis The imposter is a 2012 British-American documentary directed by Bart Layton about the disappearance of Nicholas Barclay in 1997. Some are lucky enough to have the luxury of living in the mansion, this is directly contrasted with the rest who are living in abhorrent condition, holes. The last couplet which speaks about the individuals own happiness and freedom is very hard-hitting. The poet then goes on to tell us about the work history of the unknown citizen. The Unknown Citizen by W. Then he inserts three lines, 25, 26, and 27, that rhyme.

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