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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?
The Unknown Citizen actively expresses his opinions.
False
What does the poem suggest about the role of a Union?
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The Unknown Citizen has a ______ relationship with advertisements.
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Which items does the Unknown Citizen have that are considered 'necessary' for the Modern Man?
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What do the researchers into Public Opinion conclude about the Unknown Citizen?
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What does the term 'scab' refer to?
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What is a eugenist?
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What is an installment plan?
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To what famous symbol does the title of this poem allude?
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Who is speaking in the poem?
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What is the occasion for the words in the poem?
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Where did the speaker obtain his information about the citizen?
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Why does the speaker approve of the citizen's life?
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What message does the speaker offer to the other citizens?
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How does the epigraph show the state's attitude toward the citizen?
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Why is the citizen referred to as a saint?
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Why is the speaker sure that the citizen felt free and happy?
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Why is the title of this poem ironic?
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What is a thematic statement for this poem?
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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.
Social Commentary
- 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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Description
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.