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Questions and Answers
This unknown citizen worked in Fudge Motors, an imaginary ______ company
motor
The Press noted that he purchased a newspaper ______
everyday
He had visited the hospital once and was ______
cured
The researchers into Public Opinion were satisfied that this citizen held proper opinions according to the need of the ______
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When there was peace, this citizen cried for peace, and when there was war, he went in for ______
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The teachers of his children reported that this citizen never interfered with their ______
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W.H.Auden emerges primarily as a ______
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The computer and statistics have analyzed the average citizen, but his individuality seems to be still ______
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The poet's attitude towards the subject reminds one of Thomas Gray's feelings towards the 'mute, inglorious ______'
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The number JS/07/M/378 denotes the citizen in the records of the Bureau of ______
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The human being has been ironically summed up in a mere ______, not in a name
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The marble monument erected in his honor has something ______ about it
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Study Notes
The Unknown Citizen
- The poem satirically explores the life of an average modern man, referred to as an "unknown citizen".
- The citizen worked at Fudge Motors, a fictional motor company, and was dedicated to his job, never getting fired.
- He paid his union dues, participated in strikes, and was popular among his friends, enjoying a sociable nature.
- He purchased a newspaper daily and reacted normally to advertisements, hinting at his conformity to societal norms.
Material Possessions and Public Opinion
- The unknown citizen took advantage of installment plans to acquire modern amenities like a phonograph, radio, car, and Frigidaire.
- He held opinions according to the need of the hour, crying for peace during peaceful times and supporting war during wartime.
- This suggests basic opportunism in his personality, conforming to public opinion.
Personal Life
- The unknown citizen was married with five children, considered the "right number" for a parent of his generation by Eugenists.
- He did not interfere with his children's education, implying a lack of interest in their upbringing.
Conclusion and Poetic Themes
- The poem concludes with the ironic questions "Was this unknown citizen free? Was he happy?" hinting at the emptiness of his life.
- The poem is a satire, echoing the poem's title with the grave of the unknown soldier, emphasizing the loss of individuality in modern society.
- The poet, W.H. Auden, uses a sardonic tone to comment on the superficiality of modern life, echoing Thomas Gray's sentiment towards the 'mute, inglorious Miltons'.
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Description
Explore the satirical elements in W.H. Auden's poem written after obtaining American citizenship. Analyze how the poet critiques the dehumanizing effects of statistics and technology on individual identity. Discover the underlying sardonic humor throughout the poem.
