W.H. Auden's "'Musee des Beaux Arts"

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that, in writing "Musee des Beaux Arts." Auden, chose to write about the painting because it captures one of his central themes of the suffering and unfeeling attitude in everyday life. By analyzing "Musee des Beaux Arts," we can see how Auden uses imagery, language, and the classical theme of the fall of Icarus not only to communicate his theme, but to discuss Brueghel's painting.

From the Paper:

"Auden's use of the Icarus image and of the work of Old Master Brueghel show classical style, but the poetic form of "Musee" is not classical. He uses two unequal stanzas and a varied rhyme pattern that was uncommon in his era. He opens the poem with a reference to the Old Dutch Master painters of the 16th century, of which Bruegel was a member: "About suffering they were never wrong, / The Old Masters: how well they understood / Its human position..." "

More papers on W.H. Auden's "'Musee des Beaux Arts":

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• Analytical Essay # 50863 : "Musee des Beaux Arts"
• Analytical Essay # 17062 : "W.H. Auden's "Musee de Beaux Arts"

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