What is the theme of unknown citizen?
In conclusion, one may say that the poem “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden laments the loss of personal freedom in modern society and also ironically criticizes the state which dictates and oppresses the fundamental right i.e. freedom of the citizens.
What are the ideas and themes presented in W.H. Auden’s The Unknown Citizen?
The unknown citizen is one of the most significant poems of W.H Auden with a recurrent theme, that is, the dilemma and chaos modern man faces in the rapidly changing world. The poem was written in 1939, during the horrific scenario of World War II and in the poem encapsulates this post-war chaos and up rootedness.
What is the theme of The Unknown Citizen quizlet?
The whole idea of the Unknown Citizen is a parody of the serious military concept of the Unknown Soldier, which was created in order to recognize the sacrifice of soldiers who died anonymously. The poem is dripping with irony, as the speaker lists off accomplishments that aren’t accomplishments at all.
What is the meaning of the poem unknown citizen?
Interpretation. “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden describes, through the form of a dystopian report, the life of an unknown man. By describing the “average citizen” through the eyes of various government organizations, the poem criticizes standardization and the modern state’s relationship with its citizens.
What is Auden trying to convey through his poem The Unknown Citizen?
Through the poem “The Unknown Citizen,” Auden wants to convey the idea that modern society is overly regimented and controlled by the state. As a result, people have become dehumanized, treated as nothing more than cogs in a gigantic machine.
What does the poet convey about the modern society in The Unknown Citizen?
What does the poet want to convey about modern society through the poem The Unknown Citizen give a reasoned answer?
What is the irony in The Unknown Citizen?
Irony in the Careful Depiction of the Unknown Citizen Yet nobody knows his name; rather, he is known by only, say, his social security number: “To JS/07/M/378/.” He is a truly unknown citizen. To obliterate any hint of his individual identity, he does not have an address that anchors him to a specific locality.
How does the epitaph help to introduce the theme of the poem The Unknown Citizen?
The epitaph begins with a number, not a name. In his compliance, the “Unknown Citizen” has no identity. He is merely a statistic. We also learn in the epitaph that the monument was “erected by the State.” His family, friends, and even his employers are not involved in this commemoration.
What is the tone of the poem The Unknown Citizen?
The tone of the poem is impersonal and clinical, the speaker more than likely a suited bureaucrat expressing the detached view of the state. The unknown citizen is reduced to a mere number, a series of letters; there is no name, no birthplace or mention of loved ones.
What is the irony of the poem The Unknown Citizen?
The main type of irony used in “The Unknown Citizen” is situational irony. It is ironic that the state is honoring the situation of a man brainwashed into lockstep conformity. It is also ironic that the state is so indifferent to the citizen it is “honoring” that it does not know his name.