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W. H. Auden, "Musée des Beaux Arts"

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Historical context

The date of the poem, 1938, is significant, and Auden, who was himself forced to leave Germany, was clearly responding to the tumultuous events taking place. Investigate what was happening in the world by looking at the World War II Timeline and the Holocaust Timeline. How did America and England respond to prevent the deaths of thousands of innocent people? What similar situations are there today?

The Old Masters

Auden speaks of the Old Masters, not just Brueghel. Are there other painters who depict human indifference to someone else's disaster? Is this as common a subject as the poem asserts? For research, look at other paintings at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Brussels or the Web Museum in Paris.

Daedalus and Icarus

Read more details of the story of Daedalus and Icarus. Is the poem's meaning changed by taking the full story into account?

Related Links:

Pieter Brueghel, the Elder. Biography and sixteen images, including Icarus, from the Web Museum in Paris.

 

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