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Analysis and comments on The Unknown Citizen by W. H. Auden

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Comment 23 of 23, added on July 26th, 2006 at 1:47 PM.

This poem is about the anonymity of life.

To: Monika & katie,
What's up with the spelling and capitalization errors in your comments? I find it very distracting trying to wade through all the juvenile IM comments. Yes, I am an English teacher.

Randal from United States
Comment 22 of 23, added on July 26th, 2006 at 10:37 AM.

This poem reflects what used to be and still very much is the unknown soilder-fighting and kiling and dieing in vain, for his nation, but not really for any reason. Its about how people give up thier liberties and conform for luxeries and "frigidairs". "People who sacrifice liberty for security deserve nither" ML. King, Auden's point. It is a mock of north american life and i beleive it applys to us piticulary, and more and more, as our "reactions" to the media are typical, in the scence that we take in all of the story and not enough of the truth. We should all question what were told criticaly before making conclusions, and in by doing so take back our power and liberties!

katie from Canada
Comment 21 of 23, added on June 19th, 2006 at 4:08 PM.

have you ever thought about connection with totalitarism? look at '1984' by Orwell, or 'Brave New World' by Auden. can you see any linkages?

Monika from Poland
Comment 20 of 23, added on June 15th, 2006 at 2:13 AM.

I'm currently writing an essay on this brilliantly subversive poem. I believe Auden influenced George Orwell's work "Ninety Eighty-Four" as well as Huxley's "Brave New World" and a slew of movies of recent years! I believe the JS stands for John Smith [your 'average Joe' in english terms!] and I was tickled to see a similar de-personalising referencing system in 1984 for the lead character Winston Smith.

Lisa Laurence from South Africa
Comment 19 of 23, added on May 8th, 2006 at 1:25 PM.

the poem is fantastic in describing people as tools of the state despite being somewhat dehumanising. i am pleased to say, as a youngster that we are creative children of the revolution and that this description does not apply to modern day. not in my bubble anyway.

donnie
Comment 18 of 23, added on May 3rd, 2006 at 4:17 PM.

had good meaning but didn't have good feeling

Brandon
Comment 17 of 23, added on May 3rd, 2006 at 10:38 AM.

i had to read this peom a few times to figure out that this unknown citizen wasn't the model american. but a conformist to what the government and the social system want us to believe. All of us are rapped up in every way to what other people think about us. I find myself being the same way. Is there any hope for todays society? i can only pray that there will be

Unknown Citizen from United States
Comment 16 of 23, added on March 10th, 2006 at 12:54 PM.

Well this poem was quiteintresting and also quite well thought of well it was all so grose and disturbing!

Thorne from United States
Comment 15 of 23, added on February 28th, 2006 at 12:40 PM.

I read this poem and thought... hmmm i wonder what happened to "him" i really want to know! but then i realized i do know, because he is everyone who works for a cause and everyone who is evaluated over and over again and considered average on not a danger. i beleive Auden has written this poem to show everyone this.

Lindsey from United States
Comment 14 of 23, added on February 27th, 2006 at 1:17 PM.

its ga-rossss!!! i think this dude was on crack!! hes a totally creepy dude!!fudge packing means male prostitue!!

jamie from United States

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Information about The Unknown Citizen

Poet: W. H. Auden
Poem: The Unknown Citizen
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 19990 times


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