Year 11 module b

In The Poetry of W.H.Auden, written in 1936-1939, W.H.Auden comments on the universal

experience of grief and the inevitability of death in Funeral Blues. The poem frames the complexity
of experiences to illuminate how individuals must persist. As Auden is a literary vanguard, he
becomes vulnerable and challenges social norms, expressing the concerns within literature in the
poem In Memory of W.B Yeats. He postulates the importance of language, arguing that poems offer a
different perspective as seen in Refugee Blues, as it reveals the enduring values within poetry,
making it relevant in contemporary societies as it shows humanity’s regard for each other.

Grief is an individuals’ initial response to loss which disrupts their cognitive function by prompting
some to question beliefs and purpose. When in social withdrawal, individuals’ self reflect, redefining
their character. In the poem Funeral Blues, W.H.Auden captures the visceral pain of loss as he
explores the inevitability of death. The first stanza expresses the immediate response to death
through the use of imperative verbs in ‘stop all the clocks’ and ‘silence the pianos’ which alludes to
the loss of normality. Thorough auditory imagery, Auden juxtaposes the portrayal of time and
positivity with the surreality of death whilst rejecting optimism and purpose as reverence to the
deceased. The poem explores the confronting nature of grief though an authorial intrusion in ‘He is
Dead’. The explicit tone shows Auden’s selflessness as he becomes vulnerable and requests for public
morning, reflecting on his character as his commentary on the universal experiences of grief allows
others to analogise with the poem. Moreover, Auden’s stream of consciousness in ‘I thought that
love would last forever’ emphasises on the ignorance towards an inevitable death. Despite the
human desire to understand and tame our surroundings, individuals are powerless under the
presence of death. As the iambic pentameter is cyclical, it highlights how time and life is independent
of an individuals’ emotions. The emphasis on the finality of life advocates individuals to not dwell on
the past but to use these complex experiences as a catalyst for persistence to traverse the inevitable
difficulties the future upholds. As the contemporary world reveals a chain of mutual dependencies,
through the rational acceptance of events beyond human control, individuals are forced to find
purpose and meaning. However, the sincerity and authenticity of the poet shows the
interconnectedness of individuals and their regard for human life.

Through times of political tension, individuals who publicly challenge social discourse prompt society
to evolve. As Auden is a literary vanguard, he comments on how political powers suppress Irish
culture whilst valuing the contributions of Yeats. The elegy, In Memory of WB Yeats, is about the role
and place of poetry in the modern world. Auden harnesses the first stanza, written in free verse to
denote how the weather symbolises the coldness when describing ‘the dead’ in ‘winter’. This further,
reflects the the political climate within Ireland during its campaign for independence. As Yeats
‘became his admirers’, the intentional fallacy arises as the meaning of the poem is ‘modified in the
guts of the living’ which affects the poets ‘immortality’. Auden harnesses first POV to postulate the
erosion of meaning as the poem is ‘scattered’. Auden publicly praising Yeats brings humility into the
poem. However, despite the loss of a poet, daily life goes on which is seen as ‘the brokers are roaring
like beasts’. The simile suggests that a ‘few thousand’ people will mark the importance of the day,
reflecting poetry as a career through this understatement. As a modern poet, Auden acknowledges
the complex world and discusses the different views on the meaning of poetry through self
reflection. He challenges that the primary role of poetry is to be a medium in which individuals
articulate their opinions on society and human experiences rather than changing the world in an
utilitarian sense. The allusion in ‘teaches a free man how to praise’ suggests how individuals should
appreciate poetry as it broadens perspectives. Auden highlights how poetry will only become a
catalyst for change if it is read. As Yeats contributed to literature during times of political tension,
Auden commemorates the works of the Irish poet as In Memory of WB Yeats frames societies regard
for human life through the everlasting value of literature.

In times of conflict, humanity is disregarded as individuals vary their behaviour to others based on
societal values. Due to lack of trust, society ostracises individuals of different physical characteristics
and beliefs, depriving them of security and acceptance. In Refugee Blues, Auden comments on the
individuals’ ability to be inhumane, acting on their unconscious biases within the context of the
holocaust. As Auden shows how society ostracises individuals that are foreign, he furthermore
examines the human desire for security and acceptance. The motif, ‘my dear’ shows the regard for
human life, showing sanctity. As the poem highlights the yearning for a simplistic life, disregarding
material wealth, Auden suggests how power is concentrated between the educated and wealthy. As
‘Hitler’ was able to gain power through leveraging the antisemitic view surrounding Europe, this
cements how the decisions of ‘politicians’ determines the fate of the social outcasts. This is seen
though cultural allusions in ‘the thunder’ and the imperative verbs in ‘they must die’, symbolising the
the dehumanising threat over socially rejected individuals. Moreover, while the poem shows the
disregard for humanity, the countries reject the protagonist due to lack of trust as ‘they will steal our
daily bread’, showing how an individuals’ status is defined by their characteristics. The biblical
allusions allude to how individuals of power remain ignorant, disassociating themselves from others
with a low perceived value from society. As a result, individuals in ghetto communities remain
invisible and deprived of opportunity, impacting their ability to contribute to society and reach self-
actualisation. As the poem includes universal themes, citizens in contemporary societies can
analogise as individuals regard for humanity remains unevolved.

Auden explores how grief can be a catalyst for change. As he is a literary vanguard, he expresses the
importance of poems in influencing society by providing new perspectives. Whilst Auden writes on
the realism of human experiences, he illuminates society’s regard for humanity.