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W.H Auden wrote this poem on the eve of Hitler’s invasion of Poland. Much of the content of the poem as well as what possibly moved him to write the poem revolves around Hitler and the crisis in Europe. The poem oscillates between reflections about society and the world outside on the one hand, and his own personal consciousness on the other. Auden belonged to a group of privileged young men (in their “prime” during and between the First and Second World Wars) who were socially conscious and were attracted to socialist ideology. The Spanish Civil War was at the centre of social and political change; much debate questioning and thought surrounded the war, much in the same way as the Vietnam war was a landmark for a later generation. Auden and his colleagues took an active part in the Spanish Civil War. Auden was of the belief that art was only meaningful if it was socially relevant, and early on in his career his poetry was very political. Later in his life, and at the time when this poem was written he believed that as a poet he must not interfere in political issues and get involved with propaganda, but must instead use his position and communicate more skilfully his perceptions of the world. The poet is sitting in a pub somewhere in New York, unsure and afraid of what the future holds for the world. He is disillusioned because the idealism the previous decade began with has faded away and anger and bitterness now envelops a world that has been battered and bruised by warfare. It is difficult to ignore and shut out the heaviness and horror of the times, the impact is felt in the everyday lives of people. “ The unmentionable odour of death Offends the September night. “ He is talking about a sullen and gloomy mood that has been caused by what is going on in Europe. Auden is also at the same time reflecting on a personal past of idealism - he believed in something that wasn’t what he thought it was. A youthful dream has faded, and the bitter reality of the world presents itself, it is unavoidable.
Approximate Word count = 1410
Approximate Pages = 5.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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