The Life and Work of W.H. Auden
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W. H. Auden, a prominent 20th-century poet, was born in 1907 and educated at Oxford. His work, influenced by politics, religion, and psychology, evolved through his travels and experiences, such as the Spanish Civil War and his time in the U.S. during WWII. Auden's poetry, known for its emotional depth and intellectual rigor, includes famous pieces like 'Musée des Beaux Arts' and 'Funeral Blues.' His legacy continues to impact literature.
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Early Life and Education of W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden, an influential 20th-century poet, was born in York, England, in 1907. He was the youngest of three sons in a family with medical and religious backgrounds; his father was a physician and his mother a nurse. Auden's upbringing was steeped in the Anglican tradition, which would later influence his work. He received his early education at St. Edmund's School, Hindhead, Surrey, and Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk. His academic journey continued at Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied English literature. At Oxford, Auden was exposed to the teachings of J.R.R. Tolkien on Old English and Middle English literature and became part of a circle of poets that included Louis MacNeice, Stephen Spender, and Cecil Day-Lewis. This group, sometimes referred to by the media as the "Auden Group" or "MacSpaunday," was known for their left-leaning politics and modernist approach to poetry.Auden's Formative Years and Early Works
Upon graduating from Oxford, Auden's literary career began to take shape. He spent a year in Berlin, a city that exposed him to new cultural and political ideas, and where his first collection of poems, "Poems," was privately published by Stephen Spender in 1928. This collection was later published commercially by Faber & Faber, with the help of T.S. Eliot. Returning to England, Auden worked as a schoolmaster for several years, a time during which he continued to write and publish poetry. His early works reflect his engagement with contemporary political issues and his interest in psychology and religion, themes that would recur throughout his career.Auden's Travels and Political Engagement
The 1930s were marked by Auden's extensive travels and deepening political involvement. In 1935, he married Erika Mann, daughter of the German novelist Thomas Mann, in a marriage of convenience to assist her in escaping the rise of Nazism. Auden's travels during this period, including visits to Iceland and China, were documented in collaborative works such as "Letters from Iceland" (1937) with Louis MacNeice and "Journey to a War" (1938) with Christopher Isherwood. His experiences in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War informed his evolving political consciousness and were reflected in his poetry, which increasingly dealt with themes of individual responsibility and the moral implications of political action.W. H. Auden's American Period and Later Life
In January 1939, Auden emigrated to the United States, a move that initiated a significant phase in his career. In America, he met Chester Kallman, who would become his lifelong companion. Auden's American period was characterized by a shift in his religious views, leading to his conversion to Christianity and affiliation with the Episcopal Church. His poetry from this period, including the collection "Another Time" (1940), reflects his ongoing preoccupation with themes of love, morality, and the human condition. During World War II, Auden remained in the U.S., contributing to the war effort through his writing and work for the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. His observations and experiences during this time continued to influence his poetry, which often explored the consequences of war and the nature of evil.The Legacy of W. H. Auden's Poetry
Auden's poetry is celebrated for its versatility and its exploration of a wide range of themes, including love, politics, religion, and the human psyche. His work is characterized by a mastery of form and a distinctive voice that combines intellectual rigor with emotional resonance. Poems such as "Musée des Beaux Arts," which contemplates the suffering depicted in the works of the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and "Funeral Blues," a moving elegy that was popularized by its recitation in the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral," are testament to Auden's ability to address profound themes with clarity and poignancy. His innovative approach to verse and his engagement with contemporary issues have secured his place as a central figure in 20th-century literature.The Final Years and Death of W. H. Auden
In his later years, Auden continued to write and lecture, dividing his time between residences in New York and Austria, and a cottage in Kirchstetten provided by the Austrian government. He maintained a transatlantic presence, accepting a professorship in poetry at Oxford University in 1972. Auden's health declined in his final years, and he died from congestive heart failure in Vienna, Austria, in 1973 at the age of 66. His passing was mourned by the literary community and marked the end of an era. Auden's extensive body of work, which includes poetry, essays, and plays, remains a subject of academic study and continues to resonate with readers for its insight into the complexities of the human condition.
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Early Life and Education
Family Background
Auden's family had medical and religious backgrounds, which influenced his upbringing
Education
Schooling
Auden attended St. Edmund's School and Gresham's School before studying English literature at Christ Church, Oxford
Influential Teachers
Auden was exposed to the teachings of J.R.R. Tolkien and became part of a circle of poets at Oxford
Early Career
After graduating from Oxford, Auden's literary career began with the publication of his first collection of poems
Travels and Political Involvement
Marriage and Collaborations
In the 1930s, Auden married Erika Mann and collaborated on works documenting his travels and political involvement
Political Consciousness
Auden's experiences in Spain and China during times of conflict shaped his evolving political views
Emigration to the United States
In 1939, Auden moved to the U.S. and began a significant phase in his career
Religious Conversion and Ongoing Themes
Shift in Religious Views
Auden converted to Christianity and became affiliated with the Episcopal Church during his time in America
Ongoing Themes in Poetry
Love and Morality
Auden's poetry from this period reflects his preoccupation with themes of love, morality, and the human condition
Consequences of War
Auden's observations and experiences during World War II continued to influence his poetry, which often explored the consequences of war and the nature of evil
Legacy and Impact
Versatility and Mastery of Form
Auden's poetry is celebrated for its versatility and mastery of form, combining intellectual rigor with emotional resonance
Notable Poems
Musée des Beaux Arts
This poem contemplates the suffering depicted in the works of Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Funeral Blues
This moving elegy gained popularity after being recited in the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral."
Continued Relevance
Auden's extensive body of work continues to resonate with readers for its insight into the complexities of the human condition
The Life and Work of W.H. Auden
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The poet ______ ______ ______ was born in 1907 in ______, ______.
Wystan Hugh Auden
York
England
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The '______ ______' or 'MacSpaunday,' known for their ______ politics, included Auden and contemporaries like ______ ______ and ______ ______-______.
Auden Group
left-leaning
Louis MacNeice
Cecil Day-Lewis
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Auden's first poetry collection publication
Privately published by Stephen Spender in Berlin, 1928; later by Faber & Faber.
