The Unknown Citizen Essay - 525 Words

The Unknown Citizen In The Unknown Citizen, Auden is implying that people are statistics and easily conformed to the normality of society. Throughout the poem, Auden portrays the character as being an all around normal citizen and one against whom there was no official complaint. In lines 4 and 5, the speaker describes the character as a saint and for in everything he did he served the Greater Community. He served in war, never got fired from his job, popular with his mates, and normal in every way. Auden develops the theme by describing the characters life through the research of different bureaus, researchers, and psychology workers. Each one of these descriptions point to the same idea that the character is a†¦show more content†¦Also, by focusing on the descriptions of the characters life, the readers become more aware of their own lives and how their lives compare to his. This makes the poem intriguing and brings a more personal affect towards the reader. One literary device the author uses is symbolism. This poem was written in 1940. During this time period the common occupation was a factory worker. In line 8, Fudge Motors Inc is the factory that the character works for. Also, in line 26, the character had a phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire. These were all the things necessary to the modern man. Auden uses these cultural symbols to accentuate the main idea of the poem. He wants the reader to realize the commonality of the characters lifestyle. Another device that Auden uses is alliteration. In line 29, the speaker said that he held the proper opinion for the time of year; when there was peace, he was for peace; when there was war, he went. The alliteration, when there was war he went enhances the meaning of the poem because it emphasizes to the reader the type of citizen the character was and the conformity of the character. Auden also uses visual imagery to contribute to the meaning of the poem. Almost every single line is effective in describing the characters life, his personality, and how he lived. For instance, in line 13, the Social Psychology worker found that he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.Show MoreRelatedThe Unknown Citizen Explication Essay999 Words   |  4 PagesWerner 05 March 2012 The Unknown Citizen By W. H. Auden Several conflicts are dramatized in The Unknown Citizen, the most prominent being: conformity of the middle class, government manipulation, and the loss of individualism to the standards of an average citizen. The speaker of this poem is non-traditional as the poem is, in fact, an inscription on a â€Å"marble monument erected by the State.† The inscription is dedicated to a â€Å"JS/07 M 378†Ã¢â‚¬â€presumably, â€Å"The Unknown Citizen,† although this term onlyRead More The Unknown CItizen by W.H. Auden Essay731 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"The Unknown Citizen†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Unknown Citizen† by W.H. 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Auden â€Å"The Unknown Citizen†, written by W.H. 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. 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. This citizen is portrayed as a normal and average human being who is being honouredRead MoreThe Unknown Citizen By F. H. Auden, A P2256 Words   |  10 PagesIn the three literary works that were chosen, â€Å"The Known Citizen† by W. H. Auden, â€Å"A P† by John Updike, and â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles has a theme that is known to be conformity and rebellious. The poem â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† is mainly about the unknown man who is a conformist because he listens to all the rules that are made for the society. 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