W. H. Auden by bunnyctw

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W. H. Auden

Published on Nov 28, 2015

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

W. H. Auden

Presentation by Carrie Wu

Photo by Nina Matthews Photography

basic facts

Full name: Wystan Hugh Auden
Born in York, England on February 21, 1907
Died in Vienna, Austria on September 29, 1973
Grew up in a very industrial section of northern England
Father was a physician, mother was a strict Anglican

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/w-h-auden

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/w-h-auden

Photo by mugley

Education

St. Edmund's preparatory school
Early interest in science & engineering
Received a scholarship to Oxford University
Originally studied science, then switched to English

He was actually going to be a mining engineer or a geologist, until one day his friend asked him if he ever wrote poetry. Auden said no, and his friend asked, "Why don't you?" Auden then decided that from then on, he would write poetry.

Interview with Auden:

http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/3970/the-art-of-poetry-no-17-w-h-a...

Photo by Rob Swatski

early Writing

Influenced by Thomas Hardy, Laura Riding, Edward Thomas
Generally relied on concrete images & ordinary language
Revolved around Auden's political & psychological concerns
1928 - "Poems" was privately printed. 1930 "Poems" was published
1930 Auden became a leading voice of the new generation

The first "Poems" was privately published, and its contents were different than the second "Poems." The second "Poems" debuted in America, and it was this collection that made Auden a leading voice of the new generation.

Photo by Squire of Cydonia

Travels

Had a home in 5 countries: UK, Germany, USA, Italy, Austria
Visited 27 countries (4 continents) in his life
Usually stayed for more than 2 months
Most of his writing is based on/influenced by his travels
Moved to the U.S. in 1939 & became a citizen

"home" = places he lived for at least six months at a time

http://www.audensociety.org/travellingauden.html

Photo by Patrick Q

Later writing

After moving to America = more religious & spiritual themes
Re-conversion to Christianity (abandoned at age 15)
1940: "Another Time" -> many of his most popular poems
"Language of extremity & urgency"
"Age of Anxiety" -> Pulitzer Prize (1948)

Photo by Hafiz Bastan

Other influences

Musical & dramatic interests
Social activism
Political turmoil of visited countries
Science & technology
Dickinson, W.B. Yeats, Sigmund Freud

Photo by Paul A. Rizer

Love & Marriage

It's really complicated.
Married Erika Mann (June 15, 1935).
They hadn't seen each other before.
Rarely saw her after marriage. He was gay, as was Erika.
Auden's lifelong lover was Chester Kallman (met in U.S.)

Auden joked that he was the only member of his family who didn't get a divorce...

Auden met Erika through a mutual friend, Christopher Isherwood. Erika and Isherwood had been in love, and Erika had asked Isherwood to marry her so she could obtain a British passport. She had taken an open stance against fascism, and thus faced possible arrest. Isherwood said no, but told her to contact Auden. Auden agreed to marry Erika, even though the two had never met. They married, though neither of them had feelings for the other. They never lived together, and rarely saw each other. They never divorced, though, and remained legally married until Erika's death in 1969. Both Auden and Erika were actually gay, and each had different lovers.

http://www.biography.com/people/wh-auden-9192132#awesm=~oFd1l7E91c3FEe

Photo by kaniths

Major works

Playwright, librettist, editor, essayist, poet
Poems: "Poems," "Another Time," "Age of Anxiety," "Look, Stranger!"
Plays: "The Dance of Death," "The Dog Beneath the Skin"
Librettos: "The Rake's Progress," "Paul Bunyan"

Librettist = opera text

Photo by mohammadali

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writing style

Used scientific & technical information, social & political theories
Also incorporated art & other literature
Poetry often recounts (literally/metaphorically) a journey or quest
Could write successfully in almost any verse; didn't only write poetry
Some long works, some short, some in between. No specific style

Auden's many travels made it easy for him to incorporate journeys & quests into his writing. He had tons of experiences.

Photo by liquidnight

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Why is he remembered?

Considered to be the greatest poet of the 20th century
Influenced popular culture, ordinary speech & aspiring poets
Political & social relevance, gave people hope & order
Impressive intellect & wit
Could write poems in any verse form. Diverse writer.

"even his worst lines sound impressive" - Barbara Everett

Auden wrote during the great depression. People found reassurance in Auden's calm writing. He was a British poet who had a huge global influence & also a tremendous impact on poetry in English

https://suite.io/paul-john-ramos/2c462p6

http://www.biography.com/people/wh-auden-9192132#early-life&awesm=~oFd1l7E9...

Photo by seyed mostafa zamani

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