This PPt is about the poem THe Unknown Citizen by W H Auden. THis PPT has in depth analysis of this poem.

1. THE
UNKNOWN
CITIZEN
W H AUDEN

2. THE UNKNOWN CITIZEN
•"The Unknown Citizen" is a thought-provoking poem written by W.H.
Auden in 1939.
•The poem critiques the conformity and dehumanization of modern
society, raising questions about individuality and the value placed on
anonymity.
•"The Unknown Citizen" is a powerful poem that challenges us to reflect
on the importance of individuality and the potential dangers of a society
obsessed with conformity.
•It serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to value human uniqueness and
resist the dehumanizing forces of bureaucracy.

3. W.H. Auden
•Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973) was
an influential English-American poet.
•He was known for his versatile style,
combining traditional forms with
modern themes.
•Auden's poetry often explored political,
social, and moral issues.

4. Background of the Poem
•"The Unknown Citizen" was written during a
time of rising totalitarian regimes and growing
bureaucratization.
•The poem satirizes the dehumanizing effects of
government and society's obsession with
conformity and statistics.
•It challenges the concept of an individual's
identity being reduced to mere data.

5. SUMMARY
•The poem is structured as an epitaph for an
unnamed citizen.
•The speaker, likely a government official,
praises the citizen's conformity to societal
norms and expectations.
•The citizen's life is portrayed through statistics
and data, emphasizing how well he
conformed to societal standards.

6. DEHUMANOZATION
•The poem highlights how the citizen's
individuality is lost as he becomes just a
number in the system.
•He is only known by the bureaucratic data
that describes him, devoid of any personal
characteristics.
•This raises questions about the value society
places on true identity and human
uniqueness.

7. CRITIQUE OF
CONFORMITY
•Auden critiques the pressure to conform
to societal expectations and how it leads
to the loss of personal freedom.
•The citizen is deemed "satisfactory"
because he follows the norms, but there is
no consideration for his dreams, passions,
or desires.

8. IRONY AND SATIRE
•The poem employs irony and satire to
mock the idea of an "ideal citizen" created
by the state.
•The citizen is praised for being
unremarkable and leading a life devoid of
any controversy or rebellion.

9. LOSS OF
INDIVIDUALITY
•The poem raises questions about the
sacrifice of individuality for the sake of
societal order and stability.
•The citizen's unique identity is suppressed
in favour of fitting into a standardized and
controlled system.

10. UNIVERSAL THEMES
•Despite being written in 1939, the
themes of the poem remain relevant
today.
•Auden's critique of dehumanization
and conformity can be applied to
various aspects of modern society.

11. THANK YOU