Vocabulary Quiz: Labor and Eugenics Terms

Questions and Answers

What does the poem criticize about middle-class America?

Conformity

Which of the following is a quote that reflects the passivity of the Unknown Citizen?

Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured

One against whom there was no official complaint

And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way (correct)

Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views

The Unknown Citizen actively expresses his opinions.

False

What does the poem suggest about the role of a Union?

It protects workers' rights Signup and view all the answers

The Unknown Citizen has a ______ relationship with advertisements.

reactive Signup and view all the answers

Which items does the Unknown Citizen have that are considered 'necessary' for the Modern Man?

A phonograph, a radio, a car, and a Frigidaire Signup and view all the answers

What do the researchers into Public Opinion conclude about the Unknown Citizen?

He held the proper opinions for the time of year. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'scab' refer to?

A worker who stays on the job during a strike Signup and view all the answers

What is a eugenist?

An expert on the production of healthy offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What is an installment plan?

A payment plan that allows customers to make payments at set intervals until the total debt is paid. Signup and view all the answers

To what famous symbol does the title of this poem allude?

Parody of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Signup and view all the answers

Who is speaking in the poem?

A fictional government bureaucrat. Signup and view all the answers

What is the occasion for the words in the poem?

A marble monument built in honor of the Unknown Citizen. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the speaker obtain his information about the citizen?

From various sources including the Bureau of Statistics and his employer. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the speaker approve of the citizen's life?

He didn't rock the boat and did what he was supposed to. Signup and view all the answers

What message does the speaker offer to the other citizens?

Don't rock the boat and you will be a model citizen. Signup and view all the answers

How does the epigraph show the state's attitude toward the citizen?

It presents a cold and impersonal identification of the citizen. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the citizen referred to as a saint?

He served the Greater Community. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the speaker sure that the citizen felt free and happy?

Because the Bureaucracy would have heard if he wasn't happy. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the title of this poem ironic?

It parodies the concept of the Unknown Soldier, highlighting the citizen's lack of individuality. Signup and view all the answers

What is a thematic statement for this poem?

No Identity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vocabulary and Concepts

Scab: Derogatory term for a union worker who works during a strike; often viewed negatively as a strikebreaker.
Eugenist: An individual knowledgeable about improving offspring health and genetics.
Installment Plan: A structured payment option allowing customers to pay off debt over time in scheduled intervals.

Poetic Analysis

Allusion: Title of the poem references a parody of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, highlighting themes of anonymity and state identity.
Speaker's Identity: Narration is from a fictional bureaucrat whose mundane job involves clerical paperwork, reflecting a disconnect from those impacted by their decisions.
Konyan Structure: The Unknown Citizen is conceptualized through various bureaucratic statistics, emphasizing the dehumanization in modern society.

Thematic Elements

Identity and Individuality: The Unknown Citizen embodies a lack of personal identity, defined solely by societal standards and statistics.
State Control and Patriotism: Poem critiques the concept of blind patriotism and conformity, suggesting such traits suppress individual freedom and happiness.
Manipulation of Values: The state promotes conformity through ideals of consumerism and citizen compliance, contrasting individual desires with societal expectations.

Societal Expectations: Citizens are encouraged to avoid dissent and conform to the norms set by those in power, leading to a homogenized existence.
Absurdity of Bureaucracy: The poem illustrates the absurdity inherent in a system that values statistics over individual experiences, raising questions about true patriotism and fulfillment.
Chilling Perspective: The phrase "had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard" suggests a chilling acceptance of a state-sustained illusion of happiness, neglecting personal fulfillment.

Irony and Parody

Irony of Praise: The poem satirizes the notion of societal praise by celebrating a life devoid of true significance and individuality, through mundane achievements.
Consumer Culture Critique: References to products and companies mock real American corporate culture, emphasizing how consumerism shapes citizen identity.
Cold Bureaucratic Language: Refers to the citizen as “JS/07 M 378,” illustrating the dehumanizing language of bureaucracy that reduces individuals to mere numbers.

Important Quotes and Analysis

"No official complaint": Emphasizes a life unremarkable by rebellion or individuality, suggesting minimal personal engagement.
"He was married and added five children": Aligns with societal expectations of family and reproduction, reflecting values imparted by eugenic theories of the time.
Conformity: The Unknown Citizen's reactions are dictated by societal expectations rather than personal choice, reinforcing themes of passive existence.

Conclusion

The poem critiques the modern citizen as a product of societal and bureaucratic machinery, raising vital questions about identity, fulfillment, and the implications of blind conformity within a bureaucratic state.### Consumerism and Identity
The Unknown Citizen possesses modern conveniences like a phonograph, radio, car, and Frigidaire, symbolizing societal expectations of wealth and status.
Reflects a critique of consumer culture; owning these items does not equate to true fulfillment or individuality.
Modern equivalents might include a computer, iPod, and flat screen TV, indicating the ongoing pressure to keep up with technological advancements.

Conformity and Passivity

The character exemplifies passivity, aligning his opinions with societal norms without personal conviction.
Adopts public opinions based on circumstances, demonstrating a lack of independent thought or identity.
The phrase "when there was peace, he was for peace; when there was war, he went" illustrates an attitude of conformity rather than personal engagement in significant issues.

Surveillance and Emotional Suppression

The line "Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard" highlights the State's assumption of transparency in the citizen's life.
Suggests societal pressures suppress individual thoughts and emotions, fostering an environment of compliance.
The notion of being unaware of the Unknown Citizen's deeper feelings indicates a critique of how society overlooks individual emotional depth in favor of collective stability.

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Test your knowledge of terms related to labor movements and eugenics with this vocabulary quiz. Each card features a word along with its definition. See how well you understand these specific concepts.