1) W.H. Auden's poem "September 1, 1939" references the date of Germany's invasion of Poland at the start of World War II but contains a hidden message about the lack of acceptance of homosexuality in society. 2) Auden uses metaphors like contrasts between light and dark and allusions to historical figures like Martin Luther and Diaghilev/Nijinsky to covertly critique the intolerance faced by homosexuals. 3) The poem was influenced by Auden's own experiences as a closeted gay man and his recent relationship with another man, allowing him to express his views on promoting love and tolerance between all people.

1. THE HIDDEN MESSAGE IN
SEPTEMBER, 1 1939
Presented by- Hinaba
Savaiya.

2. • M.A. Sem 02
• Paper no:- 107 Twentieth Century literature: From World War II to the end of
the century.
• Roll number:- 09
• Enrollment number:- 4069206420210032
• Email id:- hinabasarvaiya1711@gmail.com
• Submitted by:- S.B. Gardi Department of English, MKBU.

3. INTRODUCTION:-
• September 1, 1939 poem by W.H. Auden, published in the
Collection Another Time (1940)
• The poem converts the poet’s emotional response to the
outbreak of World War II.
• The Title of the work refers to the date of the German
invasion of the Poland, which precipitated the war.

4. The author uses this primary interpration as a vessel to mask
and deliever his underlying critique of homophoa.
Auden uses codified language to conceal the underlying theme
of lack of acceptance of homosexuality in society.
The poem creates metaphors, such as a contrast of light and
dark and uses implications through historical figures and
government to show the offence done to homosexuals.

5. Details by The author and
how to related A Hidden
Message in
September,11939?

6. • Wystan Hugh Auden was born in England in 1907 and had
two older brothers.Auden’s family moved around the
country for various reasons, typically because of his father
work. He was eight years old, he was sent to st Edmunds
boarding school and after he receiving a schorship to
Oxford in which we was going to study in the natural
science.

7. • Auden seemed to have feelings for fellow undergraduate
men and these feelings had gone unexpressed.
• While at college, he tried to develop heterosexual traits
through such things as psychoanalysis and celibacy.
• While in Berlin, Auden began a process of self examination
that allowed him to understand his sextual nature.

8. The fact that Auden met and fell in love with young man
Kallman in 1939 the same year that he wrote “September 1
1939”.
This idea shows up in his peom, Auden uses the historical
event of war as a platform to state his own personal
philosophy.

9. WHICH TYPE OF METAPHOR USED IN THIS POEM?
• In this poem, Auden creates a metaphor of Light and Dark.
• The meaning behind the metaphor in terms of the intolerance of
homosexuality interpretation is the light represents those who are
accepting and embrace homosextual lifestyle. Dark is those who are
intolerant and look down on homosextuals. In this line
• “ Waves of anger and fear/ Circulate over the bright and darkened
lands of the earth”

10. • The feeling of fear represent the feelings that people felt towards the
nation of homosextuals because being openly gay was a new concept of
the society.
• Auden continues his metaphor of light and dark by stating that,
“The Lights must never go out”
He is trying to express the idea that if love is lost, humans are doomed. In
the perspective of war, the love is the honesty and respect between humans,
while homosexual interpretation takes the idea that if we do not learn to
love and tolerate one another, we are doomed.

11. HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO SUPPORT HIS
PERSPECTIVE:-
• The first major reference is the mention of Martin Luther. Auden
claim that
• “ Scholarship can/ Unearth the whole offence/ from Luther until
now”
To Parallel the religious ideology that Hitler shared with Martine
Luther.
Both menwere anti-semities but also both spoke against
homosexuality.

12. • Another reference that Auden makes is Ninjinsky and Diaghilev. The
line speaks of “ What Is true of the normal heart” “ Love for all Love
alone”
• Which in the context of the war, Auden uses this reference to
emphasize the idea that people seek isolation and avoid love for
one another and confrontation.
• Auden includes this reference because Nijilsky and Diaghilev were
homosextuals and subject Auden uses Ninjinsky to speak is love.

13. CONCLUSION:-
• Auden’s personal life and the language and reference with in the
poem give evidence to a deeper meaning. Auden loved to play with
language and help people self reflect by reading his work. By
creating a poem with two levels of interpretation. Auden is able to
speak about two different subject that he feels very strongly about
of which work together to rally for a more honest tolerable world.

15. WORK CITATION:-
• Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "September 1, 1939". Encyclopedia
Britannica, 2 Dec. 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/September-1-1939.
Accessed 12 April 2022.
• Walker, Morgan. “Morgan Walker: A Hidden Message: Auden’s Personal Protest in
Time of War.” Modern American Poetry, THE SUBULTERN, 10 Aug. 2013.