Auden


 * Auden Study Questions**


 * “Musée des Beaux Arts”**

1. Who are the “Old Masters” (line 2)? What examples does the speaker provide to show how they understood suffering?

2. What example of his theory does the poet offer in lines 14-21?

3. Lines 5-13 describe two other paintings that depict human suffering? What is the attitude of the bystanders to those events?

4. Identify and comment on what you think is the overall theme of the poem. (2-3 complete sentences)

1. What did the unknown citizen do for a living? What facts are reported on his conduct? 2. What does it mean that he was a “saint”?
 * “The Unknown Citizen”**

3. What agencies or groups contribute to this report?

4. What, in your opinion is the tone of the poem? Explain how you came to that conclusion. 5. The poet asks, “Was he free? Was he happy?” What do you think are the answers to those questions? Explain why. (2-3 complete sentences)

6. Identify and comment on what you think is the overall theme of the poem. (2-3 complete sentences)