The Significance of "The Unknown Citizen"

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that the intention of the poem "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden is to make the reader aware of the way that the ordinary individual in society is often dominated and controlled by governments and authority. The paper examines the style and impact of the poem and believes that in an era of mass commercialism, advertising and media influence, as well as increased intrusion by government in the life of the individual, this poem resonates with new meaning in our time.

From the Paper:

"Auden wrote the poem in 1940 and it has been described as an "epitaph of a man, as told by the state." (The Unknown Citizen) The intention of the poem is, through the use satire, is to make the reader aware of the way that the ordinary individual in society is often dominated and controlled by governments and authority. This theme is of concern to me personally, as it refers to the abuse of authority and the attempts by those in power to manipulate and control ordinary people in many areas and countries of the world."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Firchow, Peter. (1999) "The American Auden: A Poet Reborn?." American Literary History 11 (3), pp. 448-479.
• Haffenden, John, ed. ( 1997) W.H. Auden: The Critical Heritage. London: Routledge,.
• The Unknown Citizen. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from http://bambooweb.com/articles/t/h/The_Unknown_Citizen.html
• The Unknown Citizen 2. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/386.html

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