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Vocabulary Quiz: Labor and Eugenics Terms
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Vocabulary Quiz: Labor and Eugenics Terms

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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?

  • 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?

    <p>It protects workers' rights</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Unknown Citizen has a ______ relationship with advertisements.

    <p>reactive</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>A phonograph, a radio, a car, and a Frigidaire</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>He held the proper opinions for the time of year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'scab' refer to?

    <p>A worker who stays on the job during a strike</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a eugenist?

    <p>An expert on the production of healthy offspring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an installment plan?

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

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

    <p>Parody of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is speaking in the poem?

    <p>A fictional government bureaucrat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the occasion for the words in the poem?

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

    Where did the speaker obtain his information about the citizen?

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

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

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

    What message does the speaker offer to the other citizens?

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

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

    <p>It presents a cold and impersonal identification of the citizen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the citizen referred to as a saint?

    <p>He served the Greater Community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

    Why is the title of this poem ironic?

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

    What is a thematic statement for this poem?

    <p>No Identity.</p> 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.

    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.

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