In the satirical poem, The Unknown Citizen, by W.H. Auden, the central message is that
the government can look at a man’s life and from their eyes it can be a fulfilling one
, but in reality, a man’s life is so much more than that.
What is the message in The Unknown Citizen?
In the satirical poem, The Unknown Citizen, by W.H. Auden, the central message is
that the government can look at a man’s life and from their eyes it can be a fulfilling one, but in reality, a man’s life is so much more than that
.
How are the last two lines significant in the unknown citizen?
How are the last two lines significant in “The Unknown Citizen?” They
explain how statistics can accurately portray one’s life
. … They help the reader see how statistics cannot determine a man’s true happiness. They help the reader see how statistics cannot determine a man’s true happiness.
How many lines are in The Unknown Citizen?
Though the poem is rhymed and has some metrical elements, the form is just one long stanza of
29 lines
(with an epitaph at the beginning).
Is there any symbolism in the poem unknown citizen?
An uknown
citizen symbolizes the masses of men who go to war to lay down their lives for their country
(akin to “an uknown soldier). The monument erected in the citizen’s honor is a symbol of what this type of society values most: a citizen who follows the rules, follows their opinions, and never causes trouble.
What is the irony in the poem 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.
Which company did the unknown citizen work for?
He worked in a factory and never got fired, But satisfied his employers,
Fudge Motors Inc.
This section describes the unknown citizen’s working life. The repeated /f/ links “factory,” “fired,” and “Fudge” together, the forceful sound suggesting the power and might of the state-approved corporation.
What is the main theme of the poem the unknown citizen?
In the poem “An Unknown Soldier,” Auden speaks of
the dangers of modern society to the individual including anonymity, conformity, and government control
. The anonymity of the unknown citizen is shown in Auden’s repeated use of metaphor.
On what basis unknown citizen was popular?
7) On what basis unknown citizen was popular? Ans:
he was popular with his mates and liked a drink. The Press is convinced that he bought a paper every day
. And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.
Is unknown citizen free and happy?
The citizen in “The
Unknown Citizen” was neither happy nor free
. … Had the unknown citizen been either of these things during his lifetime then the government would’ve known about it.
What is the mood of 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 conflict in The Unknown Citizen?
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
.
Why is The Unknown Citizen referred to as a saint?
Why is the citizen referred to as a saint? the Unnamed Citizen is a “modern” saint, which means
that he always served the “Greater Community
.” Why is the speaker sure that the citizen felt free and happy? Because the Bureaucracy would have heard if he wasn’t happy.
What is verbal irony?
Verbal irony is
a figure of speech
. The speaker intends to be understood as meaning something that contrasts with the literal or usual meaning of what he says.
What is situational irony?
Situational irony
takes place when the opposite of what is expected actually happens
. It is a form of figurative language, which simply means it is a literary device that goes beyond the literal meaning of words.
How many times was the unknown citizen hospitalized?
This citizen read the newspaper–or at least bought one daily. He had insurance and was hospitalized just
one time
and left well again. He had things… He went to war when he was called to do so, was married with five children.