W. H. Davies

Representations of perspectives, notions, and circumstances embody political principles and their repercussions, often emphasising the disconnect between societies and their leaders. This idea is particularly evident in WH Auden’s poems, ‘In Memory of WB Yeats’ (1939) and ‘September 1 1939’ (1939) which portrays a Modernist’s opinions on political events and personalities while acting as vehicles for expounding political opinions. Similarly, Malala Yousafzai’s Speech to the United Nations (2013)

W.H. Auden’s The Shield of Achilles and Musee des Beaux Arts encapsulate the sense of nihilism that pervade society after World War II. It is an age of disillusionment when people can no longer put faith in science and technology, since they have witnessed the catastrophe brought about by machines; nor can they rely on their government, as totalitarianism has created a frigid world where nothingness stands. However, although the prospect of the contemporary world seems bleak, W.H. Auden still harbors

There are many things in this world that we choose to partake in for our own personal pleasures. A sense of harmless, humorous rebellion lied within the heart of profound writers in more historical times of literature who made it their preference to take the more parodical route towards their audience. In Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare and Crazy Jane Talks with the Bishop by William Butler Yeats, it is evident that both well astounding poets chose to venture into delivering a less cliche message

Poetry comes up very often in our lives whether we realize it or not. Poetry has managed to leave a significant impact on my life. Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve always defined poetry as a bunch of words on a page. The essay, Tide of Voices: Why Poetry Matters Now, and the two poems, “How To Eat a Poem” by Eve Merriam and, “A Brief For The Defense” by Jack Gilbert combined to expand my understanding of the analysis of poetry; my ability to judge poetry’s meaning; and poetry’s actual definition. The

Wilfred Owens ‘Disabled’ (1917) and WH Auden’s ‘Refugee Blues’ may seem to be juxtaposed at first glance but when observed from a deeper perspective , focuses on the effects of wars and conflict on a macrocosmic as well as a microcosmic scale. In the first stanza Owen introduces an amputated individual devoid of his life spirit like an empty shell. This is evident in the poet’s portrayal of this individual as “waiting for dark “, who “shivered in his ghastly suit of grey” for whom the playful voices

The Unknown Citizen consists of many different kinds of organizations and people that are weighing in and discussing the character of the poem our “citizen”. Our citizen had never received or made any official complaint against him or others according to the “Bureau of Statistics.” It was said that the man was a saint, whose good doings in life consisted of never getting fired and serving in the military. He had belonged to a Union, and paid his dues, he was also said to have of liked having a drink

Unknown Citizen” tells a story of a citizen’s life to death through the eyes of the government. The government seeks to publicize their superiority so they may receive more fame and glory, but while doing so, they magnify their faults. In the poem, W. H. Auden uses formal word choice to create a serious tone with a sarcastic effect and irony through the lack of a rhyme scheme and knowledge about the citizen to illustrate how the government knows many statistics and facts about the citizen; however

John Donne’s The Sun Rising and Auden’s Funeral Blues use hyperbolic language to convey intense feelings towards the speakers’ beloved. Both believe all is lesser to their feelings, that even wise, celestial beings are less important than the existence of the one they love. They take on a dramatically different tone however, as the speaker of Funeral Blues laments the death of their loved, proclaiming “I was wrong,” while the lovers in The Sun Rising remain peacefully in their bed. Both speakers

W.H. Auden’s intricate elegy “In Memory of W.B. Yeats” subtly honors W.B. Yeats, one of the most famous poets of all time and a giant of 20th century English literature. Auden doesn’t waste his time romanticizing Yeats or his work, and his honest approach in separating the poems from the man makes “In Memory of W.B. Yeats” a fittingly remarkable memorial for a celebrated author. Though it partially acts as a criticism of Yeats, Auden’s poem is ultimately a defense of why poetry, Yeats included, is

“The Unknown Citizen,” written by W. H. Auden, is a poem that describes a man who lived a life most people would see as ideal. The man illustrated by this poem did what society expected him to do, which resulted in a model life. This poem, however, can be seen in more than one way. Some may see the story in the poem as a description of a man who had an unfulfilling life because he did exactly what was expected of him. Instead of trying something new, exploring the world, or making a change, the man