Reading Sad Literature - Essay Example

Housman has been criticized since he wrote this poem. Most people believe Housman is not a sharp poet like Shakespeare although he produces one of the most criticized poems of the 20th century. This is stupid stuff is one of his lengthy poems but also entertaining. The contents of the poem are amazing while the title itself is also challenging. In this poem, Housman has used themes of self-affection and external nature to drive home his point. These two themes also make the poem so popular. Housman uses words that in a real sense are not true to make you happy. This is also the reason why this poem is so attractive. For example, Them it was their poison hurt./I tell the tale that I heard told./\Mithridates, he died old (Coleman).” And it is of course the king Mithridates that this tale is of, which Housman, in Terence’s voice, is using here as a metaphor for “training for ill and not for good.” From this excerpt, we expect that the advice is pessimistic but Housman has been able to overturn this statement. He says that Mithridates did not want to die but instead wanted to live a long healthy life. In addition to lying to you about happiness, Housman will also tell you what to do with happiness in this poem.

Auden's satire in the unknown citizen
Auden in the poem unknown citizen has managed to employ the use of satire in this poem. One of the most fundamental satires used creatively in the poem is irony. Moreover, the author has also managed to include exaggeration, and criticism of the citizen in addition to another current affair. The unknown citizen managed to create biting, bitter, sarcastic, and accusatory double meaning of human beings who have no sense of their freedom or individuality. This is the reason for the name unknown citizen. The prom is about a factory worker unknown citizen who has never been fired but does not have the spine to stand for his rights. Ironically, one does not have the spine to stand for his rights yet he has never been fired. Ironically, the unknown citizen is so famous but nobody knows his name including the author (Auden H. W). This citizen is reported to be due paying union member, a popular drunkard, subscribed to a daily newspaper, owned a car, and radio, and was a law-abiding citizen just like the rest but never had a name.
The author of this poem has also ensured that the unknown citizen is not described in any war. The citizen's identity has been blurred and he never spoke anything in this poem. We only get descriptions from the author. Ironically, the man is only identified as JS/07/M/378 which is his social security number. The police have never traced him and the only people who have traced him are the Bureau of Statistics personnel. This means that the unknown citizen is much distanced from reality. He is only related to figures, numbers, and not human beings. The author has managed to employ the use of satire very well in this poem.

Thomas's Philosophy in "Fern Hill"
What attitude towards adulthood and childhood
According to Thomas Fern Hill, attitudes change from happiness to sadness, as we grow old. According to Thomas, life after childhood is complete bondage. The last stanza of this poem reveals just what Thomas is talking about. The use of comparisons like green and gold symbolically shows the metamorphosis from childhood to adulthood. Childhood is filled with a lot of innocence and insouciance virtues which are lost when we become old. For this reason, Thomas believes that we lose our happiness. Thomas was old when writing this poem which is the reason he can distinguish between childhood and adulthood. Thomas lacks the magic of power that is bestowed on youths and children. Read More